Anchorage Police Not Thrilled With Revised Alarm Ordinance

The false alarm ordinance now charges alarm users a one-time $50 registration fee and resets the number of false alarms for each home to zero at the beginning of each year.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – The police department here is worried it could lose up to $265,000 in fees due to a recent revision to the city’s false alarm ordinance.

The city of Anchorage’s former ordinance waived the fee for first time offenders. However, the fee would increase for every additional false alarm and kept track of each time police responded to a residence or business over the years, KTUU.com reports.

Additionally, alarm owners had to pay a yearly registration fee of $25.

The amended ordinance still waives the fee for first-time offenders and will increase in price for every additional false alarm.

However, at the beginning of each year, the number of false alarms for each home will be reset to zero. The new law also charges a one-time registration fee of $50.

Anchorage Police Chief Mark Mew stated that although the fees will be less expensive for homeowners, he’s concerned that the ordinance change will result in more false alarms and wasted time for the department.

Mew noted that staffing for the police department is low, and the department is reviewing ways to reduce the call for service load.

The department currently responds to roughly 5,500 alarms annually. Of those, 97% are false, Mew says.

video platformvideo managementvideo solutionsvideo player

 

If you enjoyed this article and want to receive more valuable industry content like this, click here to sign up for our FREE digital newsletters!

Security Is Our Business, Too

For professionals who recommend, buy and install all types of electronic security equipment, a free subscription to Commercial Integrator + Security Sales & Integration is like having a consultant on call. You’ll find an ideal balance of technology and business coverage, with installation tips and techniques for products and updates on how to add to your bottom line.

A FREE subscription to the top resource for security and integration industry will prove to be invaluable.

Subscribe Today!

Get Our Newsletters