The Fayetteville City Council in the coming months will be considering an ordinance to address the large number of false activations generated by alarm systems throughout the city. Nearly 83 percent of alarm calls in 2010 were false alarms.
Fayetteville Police spokesman Steve Crawshaw said the city is working to develop an ordinance to address the large number of false alarm calls answered by officers.
The department in 2010 answered 2,212 police-related alarm calls. Of those, 1,652, or nearly 83 percent, were false activations, the result of operator error or a malfunctioning alarm system, Crawshaw said.
The numbers for 2009 are similar, with 1,833 false alarms out of 2,297 alarm calls, Crawshaw added.
City Manager Joe Morton said the City Council would be reviewing the matter some time this fall.
Crawshaw said response to alarm calls represents a significant expenditure of police resources.
“It only makes sense that real time and money could be saved if alarm system users were more aware of this problem and took steps to prevent false activations,” he said. “After consulting with an advisory group recognized by the International Association of Chief’s of Police (IACP) and following the model of other Georgia communities, the City of Fayetteville has decided to draft a city ordinance that will address the false alarm problem and create a more efficient and effective police response to legitimate alarms.”
Crawshaw noted that there will be advertisements in the coming months in the local newspapers, the City of Fayetteville web site, Facebook and other media sites about the false alarm ordinance and the registration process that will required of each user.
Peachtree City in May approved an ordinance giving alarm system owners two false alarm calls, or maybe three, before a fine process kicks in. The third false alarm can be fine-free if the owner takes an online alarm course.
The Peachtree City ordinance also requires that burglar alarms be registered and that the phone numbers of two responsible parties be provided.
