The sheriff’s department in Oregon’s Washington County is proposing a new alarm ordinance that would eliminate any response to an alarm customer with more than four false alarms in a calendar year. Washington County’s commissioners will likely decide on the proposal Jan. 4. If passed, it will take effect immediately.
Under the current ordinance in the county, which includes Beaverton, Hillsboro and portions of the Portland metropolitan area, deputies already don’t respond to alarms at homes and businesses without an alarm permit. Under the new ordinance, an alarm user with a fifth false alarm would have their permit revoked for a year and lose alarm response, according to The Oregonian. More than 400,000 residents are served by the Washington County Sheriff.
“When false alarms continue to go off, there’s not much incentive for fixing the problem,” sheriff’s Lt. Sean Fisher told the Oregonian.
The new ordinance also includes a provision where deputies would be allowed to force their way into a locked building or residence to shut off an audible alarm if complaints are received from neighbors.
