On Jan. 1, 2005, the Brockville Police Service is scheduled to instate a bylaw that will have officers stop responding to any address where three false alarms have been recorded. To reinstate the service, the owner must pay a $75 fee. After the fourth and subsequent offense, the cost rises to $150.
The bylaw does take into account natural events like electrical storms or power outages that can trigger alarm systems. With the second false alarm, the owner is given a copy of the bylaw and a warning that the third false alarm carries a penalty.
“We attend an average of 1,000 false alarms a year, with two vehicles attending, and a minimum of two officers,” says Deputy Chief John Manoli. “The third time that we attend, and if it’s a false alarm, then we will send you a bill.”
