False alarm

calls in Fairburn have cost the city thousands of dollars in personnel

costs and equipment use in the last year. During the July 14 City Council

meeting, the council learned that more than 1,050 false alarms were received

over the past year in Fairburn.

With losses

at about $28,000 in man hours and equipment costs, the city cites "poorly

maintained equipment and careless employees" as the root of the problem.

Council member

Harvey Melear, at last Monday's City Council meeting, was opposed to a

new ordinance for false alarms.

"It's

a penalty to businesses. I don't think we're handling it right. I wouldn't

be surprised if 800 to 850 of those calls were legitimate false alarms,"

he said.

Melear felt

that the city's nuisance law already in place would accomplish the same

result.

The new ordinance

states habitual false alarms, which is more than three in a 30-day period,

will result in a fine of $50 for each subsequent indiscretion during that

period. False alarms caused by natural disasters such as electrical storms

will not be counted against the allotted tolerance.

For those habitually

abusing their alarm systems, a court appearance will be required and a

possible fine of $500 handed down if convicted.

"The problem

is people become cavalier about it," said Police Chief Frederick

Brown during the discussion.