Archives > Celina Record > News
Print
E-mail
Comment
Rate
RSS
Share
Lower fees now in place for alarm permits
By Jim Kilpatrick, Staff Writer
A new burglar, robbery, fire and medical emergency assistance alarms ordinance went into affect on Friday according to Celina Police Chief Joe Williams.
“There are several reasons we are doing this. There is a lot of confusion in the community about if they must register alarms and if they do how much will it cost,” Williams said.
A city ordinance passed in 2000 said that all residences in Celina had to register their alarm system with the city. It also stated that there was a $50 registration and a yearly renewal of $50, said Williams.
Some residents told Williams that the fee was only $25 and not a reoccurring fees, other said it was $50.
“Some of the residents say they were told that it was a one time fee,” Williams said. “It’s very confusing and I wanted to clear it up.”
The other problem with the 2000 alarm ordinance was it only covered burglar alarms.
“I want to expand the ordinance to cover robbery alarms, fire alarms and medical alarms,” he said.
He was concerned that a malfunction fire alarm would be sending the fire department to a home several times a week.
“This would have the fire department busy doing things it doesn’t need to be doing,” Williams said.
The ordinance will cover repeated false alarms in the following categories: five false burglar alarms in a twelve mouth period there will be no service charge, on the sixth false alarm a service charge fee of $50 can be issued, for false robbery alarms a service fee of $75 on the sixth false alarm. Fire alarms are different, two false fire alarms during a 12 month period there is no service charge but on the third false fire alarm a service charge of $75 can be issued. The same goes for false emergency medical alarms resulting in a possible $75 service charge on the third occurrence.
“We have this ordinance in order to make property owners response for their alarms,” Williams said. “This ordinance is not about money.”
It is important to have a permit issued by the police department.
“I am emphasizing this portion of the ordinance, for anyone getting a permit on or after Feb. 15, 2008 the $25 fee and the annual fee will be in place,” Williams said.
He stressed that service charges can be issued and not that they would be issued as it would depend upon each situation.
“If a fee is issued and we find out later it was an error, we will reimburse the money,” he said.
False alarms do happen even if the alarm is monitored and kept at peak operating condition.
For example bad weather, or high winds that might have set off the alarm would be an issue that the officer arriving at the scene would have to make a decision upon.
“We understand that false alarms are going to occur,” he said. “But once we get calls from the same address again and again this ordinance will help us to resolve the issue.”
The main reason for the permit is to gain information in case of an emergency, said Williams.
“All we want is compliance,” he said. “We want people to get a permit.”
The ordinance, the application for a permit and all the rules associated with the program will be available on the police web site www.celinapolice.com or by calling the police station at 972-382-2121.
Beside the website Williams added that residents will receive information in their water bill over the next few months and when new home owners arrive in their welcome to Celina bags.
The following are comments from the readers.
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
You must register with a valid email to post comments.
Only your Member ID will be posted with the comments.
Only your Member ID will be posted with the comments.
Registered users sign in here:
Become a Registered User
- Return to: News «
- Home «
- Top of Page ^
