Austin homeowners will face being hit with harsher fines for false alarms on home security systems, according to a newspaper report.
A 2005 state law allowed cities to increase fines for false burglar alarms, and Austin started charging slightly larger fines three months ago, according to the American-Statesman.
The Austin City Council is considering adding the changes to a city ordinance, the newspaper reported.
Homeowners used to be charged $50 for six or more false alarms in a year. They can now be charged $50 for four or five false alarms in a year, $75 for six or seven and $100 for eight or more, the newspaper reported. The fine remains $100 for three or more false alarms on panic buttons, which signal immediate danger.
Austin police responded to 23,800 false alarms in 2006.
