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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1979 06-06 False alarms prompt ordinance THE REVIEW Qi.,n f 92 False a armsp rompt ordinance By MELANIE WAAGE police officers out of service for those 391 dinances." install an alarm system, or use and hours. THE PROPOSED ordinance is intended possess an operative alarm system, Of the 528 reports of burglar alarms' "so,THE problem gets to be that a to regulate those establishments that which utilizes taped or pre-recorded soundings reported by the Maplewood Maplewood officer is tied up at a certain cause a continuing problem, Schaller messages which deliver a telephone Police Department in 1978,522 were false business establishment, waiting for a said. alarm message;alarm systems shall not alarms,according to a report to the city keyholder, and not available for other "The problem is we don't want to be installed without applying for and manager from Dick Schaller,director of duty,"Schaller said. "Once an officer discourage businesses from using alarms. receiving a license from the city. public safety. It was presented to the responds to that call,they have to stay at But,it gets to be even more of a problem THE FEE will be$25 annually per Maplewood City Council at the May 17 the scene.If there is no sign of forced when the same establishment is having license.The ordinance further states that meeting. entry,the officer can't readily check the false alarms.four times a month.You get for a third false alarm within six months, BECAUSE OF the high number of false situation out,but must wait for a door to a little of the'cry wolf'syndrome. So and all succeeding responses within six alarms,Schaller presented a model or- be opened." since there are so many false alarms,one months, a $25 fee will be charged. dinance to the council for recom- A number of locations were responsible has to think there is something wrong Licenses can be revoked if an establish- mendations to regulate burglar, holdup for four or more false burglar alarms last with the system,and a control is needed." ment has more than six false alarms in a and fire alarm systems. year.The report lists the three Ramsey Parts of the ordinance include requiring six-month period,and thus constitutes a The 522 false alarms were caused by County facilities, Aldrich, Keller and a license for each alarm business,alarm public nuisance. either a malfunction or an employee Goodrich, as having 58 false alarms; agent,alarm system,proprietor alarm or "We have mixed emotions about the error, Schaller said. In the case of a school district facilities having 40 false audible alarm.An audible alarm is one ordinance," Schaller said. "We want malfunction, the building must be alarms; Twin City Candy, 33; and designed for the detection of unauthorized people to have alarms, and to be searched with a keyholder.This means Country Club Market,21.Other sites were entry on premises, and generates an responsible with them. We don't want the officer that responds to the call must responsible for 15, 14, 12 and 10 calls audible sound.A proprietor alarm is one them to take them out.Sometimes,when wait until the keyholder arrives,so the during the year. not serviced by an alarm business. we have responded to a false alarm at a building can be searched.This often takes particular establishment four nights in a a long time waiting for that person to 75 per cent of the false alarms were Another section of the model ordinance row,it isn't that the business man is not I show up,according to Schaller. attributed to locations that had four or requires that a notice containing the being responsible,but he is waiting for The,typical false alarm requires 45 more false alarms. name and telephone number of the person repair services.So maybe this ordinance minutes of time for at least one police The report also said there were a total to be notified be posted in case an alarm will make all persons concerned more officer, according to the staff report. of 41 false fire and water flow alarms in goes off,and the person can be summoned responsible." Based on that figure,the 522 false alarms 1978.These alarms tied up fire equipment during any hour of the day or night. THE COUNCIL recommended that consumed a minimum of 391 hours and and volunteer firefighters'time. Schaller said that after recom- staff research the use of the ordinance cost the city a minimum of$5,630 based on "This is a model ordinance, and we mendations,this will probably be revised and involve merchants in the community. an average salary benefit rate. fully realize it will need some amend- to a list of all businesses and keyholders Schaller said that they will be sending The other point stressed in the report menta before adoption," Schaller said. posted at the police station. questionnaires to all the businesses in was that in addition to the time and "The alarm ordinances in the nation vary Other aspects of the ordinance are Maplewood they know have alarms and money aspect of the alarms,they kept from no ordinance to very strict or- prohibitions; such as no person shall want to hear all input.