Alarm Ordinance

Town of Matthews False Alarm Ordinance Information, Registration & Payment of Fines

The Town of Matthews enacted this ordinance in 1999 to reduce the number of  'false' alarm calls received by our police and fire departments. It was and is the hope of the town that this ordinance serves to educate the public of the proper use of alarm systems, and of the drain on town resources caused by excessive false alarms. The complete ordinance may be viewed by clicking here, but a summary is found below.

Permit Required: No person shall use an alarm system, as described in Section 98.01 of the Town Ordinance, which is designed to elicit, either directly or indirectly, police or fire department response, without first obtaining a permit for the system from the town.

Civil Penalty For Non-Registered System: When the town receives notification of an alarm call, whether 'false' or not, to a property not properly registered with the town, the property owner shall be assessed a civil fine of $100 per response.

Registration: There is no cost to register. You may obtain an application form from your alarm monitoring company, the Matthews Police Department, Town Hall, or Public Library, or you may download a registration form this link: Alarm Application.

Responses to Alarms

Police or Fire Response: whenever an alarm call is received, and the Police or Fire Department responds, a police officer or firefighter on the scene shall inspect the area and determine whether the response was in fact necessary as indicated by the alarm system or whether the alarm was a 'false alarm.'

Major Causes of  'False Alarm' Determination: The number one cause is user error - the system is improperly set or disabled. If this occurs, and if the police are 'cancelled' by the alarm company prior to the officer's arrival, the alarm is not considered 'false' for the purposes if this ordinance. The Fire Department's response may not be cancelled.

Notification: If the police officer or firefighter at the scene determines the alarm to be false, the officer or firefighter shall make a report of the false alarm. The alarm user shall be notified of such false alarm determination.

False Alarms

False Alarms: an alarm will be deemed 'false' if no evidence if found indicating the presence of conditions for which the alarm system exist (i.e. no evidence of a crime, burglary, fire, etc.)

Exceptions: Alarms resulting from power loss, severe weather, or when the system is being tested and the Police or Fire Department has been informed in advance of the test, are not considered 'false' for the purpose of this ordinance.

Excessive False Alarms Requiring Police Response: Three (3) or more false alarms resulting in police response within any twelve-month permit period is considered excessive, constitutes a public nuisance, and is a violation of this ordinance.

 Civil Fines Assessed For Each 'Excessive' False Alarms Requiring Police Response:

* 3rd - 5th false alarm  $50

* 6th -7th false alarm   $100

* 8th - 9th false alarm  $250

* 10th + false alarm     $500

Discontinuance of Police Response: The failure of an alarm user to make payment of any civil fine within thirty-days from the date of receipt shall result in a discontinuance of police response to alarms that may occur at the property until payment is received.

Reinstatement Of Police Response: Reinstatement of eligibility for police response to alarm calls fire be made only upon receipt of any prior unpaid civil penalties assessed pursuant to this section.

Excessive False Alarms Requiring Fire Response: Three (3) or more 'false' alarms resulting in fire department response within any twelve - month permit period is excessive and constitutes nuisance.

Civil Penalties For Each False Alarms Requiring Fire Response: A service charge of $200 shall be assessed for each occurrence of an excessive fire alarm requiring fire department response.

Payment Of Fines: Fines must be paid within 30 days of the Invoice date, and may either be mailed, as directed on the Invoice, or paid on-line through this link:

https://wmq.etimspayments.com/pbw/include/false_alarm/matthews/input.jsp

If you have any question regarding registration or civil fines, please contact Captain Garland Amos of the Matthews Police Department Support Service Division at (704) 847-4069

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