DEKALB County, Ga.—In July 2000, the County Commission of DeKalb approved a fine increase from $25 to $100 for business owners and residents after the fourth false alarm in a given year. The fee is levied on the fifth and subsequent false alarms.
The increase is due to an alarming false alarm rate reported by DeKalb police.
In 1999, law enforcement responded to 144,327 alarm calls—only 39 of those alarms were warranted. That total breaks down to greater than 12,000 false alarms per month.
Approximately $177,000 in fines were collected in 1999, according to Marvin Davies, deputy finance director for DeKalb County. County officials contend they prefer having fewer false alarms than added revenue to the county.
Source: The Atlanta Journal and Constitution
