Avoid An Alarming Fine
How to Prevent False Alarms
Responding to false alarms is costly to you and the police and fire departments. False alarms delay officers in responding to other more serious 911 calls. The City's False Alarm Program is in place to fine repeated violators of the false alarm ordinance, which went into effect September 1, 2004.
For details on fines and other information about the False Alarm Program, CLICK HERE.
Listed below are some tips that can help you prevent false alarms and possibly save you money in the form of false alarm fees.
- If you accidently set off your alarm, don’t panic. Advise your alarm monitoring station immediately. Remember your passcode and/or password.
- Make sure all alarm users and keyholders at your address are trained to use the system and know the codes to arm and disarm the system; including how to cancel the police dispatch.
- Do not call 911 to cancel an alarm call. You must call your alarm monitoring station.
- You can arrange to have your alarm monitoring station call you or another designated person first instead of the police when your alarm is activated.
- If you expect workers, real estate agents or delivery personnel, meet them at your site to deactivate the alarm. Remember that you are responsible for false alarms caused by them.
- Make sure all doors and windows are properly closed and locked prior to arming the alarm system.
- Do not leave anything that will move (pets, plants, ballons, drapes, fans, etc.) in a room that is protected with a motion detector.
- Have the sensitivity settings on motion detectors and glass-break sensors adjusted so that unwanted sounds or items, such as thunder or outside construction, do not active them.
- You can arrange with your alarm company not to dispatch the police for interior motion sensor activations without having other sensors activated. This is known as “double sensor” dispatching.
- Call your alarm company after each false alarm to determine the cause of the false alarm. You will continue to have false alarms until the problem is repaired or adjusted.
- If a fence encloses your alarmed location, the police cannot properly check your property. Please ensure that your call list is up-to-date with the alarm company, this will ensure that someone can be located to meet the officer.
- Have your alarm system checked and tested regularly.
- If your alarm system is more than five years old, now is the time to consider upgrading or updating the equipment.
- Your battery backup has a useful life of about 3 to 5 years, but that life may be shortened if you have had several power outages. Your backup should be checked annually, or after any storm related false alarm, by an alarm technician and replaced when needed.
Prepared by:
Bill Fuller
Web Content Manager
Public Affairs Department
For More Information Contact:
Dee Dee Smith
False Alarm Program
Police Department
110 South McDowell Street
Raleigh, NC 27602
919-996-3719
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