The county in Washington state that includes the city of Tacoma and Mt. Rainer National Park has adopted a new alarm ordinance where alarm companies are fined for false alarms instead of alarm users. The revised ordinance for Pierce County, which went into effect on Jan. 1, requires alarm companies in unincorporated areas of the county to pay fines for each false alarm.
Under the ordinance, alarm companies are required to register with the Sheriff’s Department and will also be responsible for the registration fee of each system. The companies have also been mandated to augment all of its alarm customers’ systems with One Plus duress codes and single-action, non-recessed button alarm activation devices.
The alarm users themselves are no longer responsible for permit fees or false alarm fines.
Alarm companies will be fined $250 for each false burglary alarm and $125 for false robbery, panic and duress alarms.
