The Dallas City Council has set dates to debate and vote on a revised proposal to bring a verified response policy to the city. The new proposal, which limits verified response to commercial alarm systems, will be debated during the council’s Dec. 5 meeting and is on the agenda to be voted on Dec. 14.
Under the revised proposal by Dallas’ city manager’s office, alarms at commercial establishments would not be responded to by police unless they are verified by a private security guard hired by the company that installed the alarm. Unlike a previous verified response proposal that was roundly criticized by the public during two council meetings, the revised plan doesn’t include residential systems and continues police response to home alarms.
Supporters of the measure call it a “compromise” to critics of the previous plan, while alarm industry and other community leaders say any plan that includes verified response is not a compromise.
In a related matter, the city of Dallas has announced it is increasing the permit fee for commercial alarm systems from $50 to $100.
