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Overview
Every neighborhood has its own home alarm ordinances and regulations to ensure that residents can rely on local law enforcement and services in case of an emergency. If you have installed a new home alarm system or upgraded an existing one, you will need to register the alarm with the local police department. Fees and registration requirements vary by location, but the process typically involves filing out an application and paying a small registration fee.
Significance
Many homeowners and renters install fire alarms and security systems to protect their property, but the local police and fire department need to verify when these systems have been installed. Thousands of false alarms are reported each year, and responding to these alarms can waste hours of patrol time; the sheriff's office and police department cannot respond to a real security breach if they cannot verify the alarm system. Registering an alarm allows the police department to serve residents who need help quickly and efficiently because they can monitor the alarm and verify that there is an emergency that needs attention.
Function
The process of registering an alarm is relatively simple. The registrant may be able to download the alarm registration form the local sheriff's or police department's office, and can send in a check or make an online payment for the alarm registration fee. These rarely cost more than $50, and the renewal fee is approximately 50 percent of the initial registration fee.
Benefits
Registering a home alarm saves taxpayers money because the police department does not waste hours of patrol time seeking out unidentified and false alarms. Registration also means that the homeowner's property can be monitored by law enforcement in case of a real emergency, and that all details about the security emergency can be tracked for insurance purposes. Law enforcement may also need details of the alarm system to compile accurate police reports or use them during court proceedings.
Considerations
If a homeowner is hit with a false alarm charge that they feel is a mistake, they may be able to file an appeal with the local sheriff's office within seven to 10 days of receiving the false alarm notification. Alarm registration is typically non-transferable; in most cases, the alarm will be registered under the name of the primary household member. If the property has changed ownership, the new homeowner will need to register the alarm in her name.
Warning
Every county has its own regulations for addressing false alarms. If the security alarm system is activated more than once during a designated period because of malfunction or human error, the homeowner may be fined. Alarms that do not meet local ordinance requirements or those that violate the provisions of the local ordinance may result in a fine. The homeowner may also be subject to a fine if the Police Department finds a security system that has not been registered appropriately or if it does not meet local ordinance requirements.
