Helping to avert more punitive measures directed against alarm companies and owners in the Palm Springs, Calif., area, a local alarm firm is helping local police establish an online alarm school designed to help users reduce false alarms. Police will now offer alarm owners the chance to take the alarm school instead of paying $100 for a second false alarm after one “free” false alarm in a calendar year.
Steve Kaufer, owner of Palm Springs alarm firm Maximum Security, came up with the alarm school idea after starting to work with local authorities on ways to help reduce false alarms. Kaufer came to the Palm Springs Police after talk began last year that the department wanted to get tougher on the false alarm problem.
An as-yet-named Internet company will come up with the 35-minute course, which will include an exit exam that class takers must pass in order to have their false alarm fine waived.
The proposal won local council approval on March 1 and is being enacted this month.
After the option for alarm school, alarm users will be subject to an unwaivable $100 fine for each false alarm in a calendar year.
