REDMOND, Wash.—On July 1, Redmond, Wash., implemented a new alarm policy, which states that alarms not properly registered with the city will not warrant police response. Police will still respond to panic alarms, medical alerts, hold-up alarms and suspicious activity.
Currently, only 1,200 alarms have been registered compared with more than 13,000 notices that were mailed more than a year ago. Redmond officials estimate it is costing the city approximately $40,000 per year, which is about 10 percent of the police department’s calls. Although the city currently has a fee structure in place for repeat false alarm offenders, the Redmond City Council agreed to adopt a registration ordinance with the hope that it will help to lower false alarm rates.
Source: False Alarm Reduction Association (FARA)
