In the last few months, a number of cities have approved false alarm ordinances that allow regular defaulters to be fined for sounding a false alarm. In the month of March, Denison, Texas, joined the group that already has a really long list of other cities. Clearly, false alarms have become a huge problem, pushing authorities to take action.
Denison Police Chief Jay Burch said that in 2012, more than 1,000 false alarms cost the city over $40,000, not to mention the many man hours wasted for nothing. To curb this, the Denison False Alarm Ordinance would fine the people whose alarms were repeat offenders. The ordinance requires a registration of all new and old alarm systems.
Police officials and authorities have repeatedly mentioned that the purpose of these ordinances is not to make money at the residents’ expense.
The purpose behind the Ordinance is not to make money. In fact, in one year, police responses to alarm related calls can cost the City over $70,000 – yet cost-recovery measures amount to less than half that amount.
Installing alarm systems and in your home is a very good decision that not only lets you take better care of your family and valuables but also acts as a deterrent to most intruders, helping reduce the burglary rate at large. However, it has been observed that most people installing alarm systems in their home don’t educate themselves about them enough, causing false alarms as a result of unintended mistakes. False alarms are no doubt a huge waste of the state’s time and money, but the problem isn’t just that. These false alarms also directly affect you, the consumer. If the alarms keep going off too often for no reason, the possibility of a resemblance to the story “The Boy Who Cried Wolf’ may not be too distant. If your alarm ever goes off for a real reason, chances are that you may not be taken seriously because you have been a repeat offender of false alarms.
Hence, as a follow up tothese ordinances and to alleviate the questions and concerns of the residents, almost every police department across the nation has issued false alarm reduction guidelines that can help homeowners take necessary precautions or better educate themselves about their so that such occurrences can be minimized. Here are some of the most crucial pointers.
First of all, choose the right alarm system, based on your personal requirements. For instance, if you have children or pets, you need a system that is out of their reach. In addition to choosing wisely, you also must educate yourself on all aspects of the system so you don’t accidentally trigger the alarm.
Another helpful tip is to test your alarm system every three months to make sure it is working fine. However, make sure you secure all doors and windows before you have a trial run. In fact, lockingup all doors and windows is one of the first things you must do before you leave home. Not only will this reduce false alarms, but it also will keep your home safer; doors and windows are the first points of entry into your home for any intruders.
Emily Stevenson
Author – Emily is a 10 year veteran of the home security industry working in sales. She was a top sales person at leading home security companies, but has shifted her focus to working on helping consumers make the right decisions.