Lawrenceville (Ga.) to Begin Enforcing False Alarm Ordinance Jan. 1
Residents and business owners in the Atlanta suburb will be fined up to $100 for excessive false alarms beginning in 2022.
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LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. — Residents in this Atlanta suburb will be fined up to $100 for excessive false alarms in 2022 after the City Council approved an updated ordinance.
The city’s false alarm ordinance, approved by City Council in September, took effect on Dec. 1; individuals will now receive false alarm notices, while fines will start going out in January.
The intent of the false alarm ordinance is to encourage alarm owners and alarm companies to properly use and maintain their alarm systems, according to the city’s news release. There have been excessive false alarms, which “burden” the police department’s limited resources, the release stated.
Lawrenceville’s ordinance is considered less onerous than similar law passed by nearby cities in recent years, including Dunwoody, Roswell and Sandy Springs. The Lawrenceville ordinance does place a burden on alarm companies to provide contact information for their customers if an alarm goes off. Companies will be required to explain to customers how to use their alarm system and go over a false-alarm prevention checklist with them.
Permits are required for anyone who wants an alarm system and they must obtain an application from the city within five business days of the alarm system installation or an alarm system transfer. There is no charge for permits; however, a late fee is assessed after 30 days.
The false alarm fees differ between residents and non-residents.
Residents will pay $25 for their third false alarm and $100 for any subsequent false alarms. Businesses will be fined $50 for their second false alarm, $200 for their third false alarm and $400 for any subsequent false alarms.
Alarm users will automatically become registered in the event of a police response. Non-residential false alarms without a valid permit on file will result in an additional $100 fee on top of the alarm fee.
Anyone who receives notice of a false alarm in Lawrenceville will be able to appeal it, and every individual’s false-alarm count resets every 12 months from the registration date of their system.
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