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Nationwide, 98.4% of the time when police are dispatched for an alarm call, it is false. The City of Irving is no different. A relatively low number of business and residential addresses generate the vast majority of repeat false alarm calls.
False alarms cost the City of Irving and its citizens thousands of dollars per year and take police officers and firefighters away from actual emergencies. To prevent unnecessary emergency response to false alarms, an ordinance was adopted to encourage all alarm users to maintain the mechanical reliability of and to properly use their alarm equipment.
On November 16, 2006, Chapter 9 of the City of Irving’s Code, Alarms Systems, was adopted by the City. This ordinance establishes business and residential alarm code requirements. The ordinance creates a registration process, provides for annual alarm permit fees of residential and business alarms, and provides for fees for false alarms to encourage improvement in the reliability of alarm systems.
The ordinance requires business and residential alarm users to register their systems with the City of Irving, by paying a $50 annual permit fee. The annual permit fee for Seniors (65 or older) is $10.00. In addition to an alarm permit fee, fees for excessive false alarms will be assessed during each registration period as follows: Each false alarm in excess of three (3) but fewer than six (6) is $50.00; $75.00 for more than five (5) but less than eight (8); $100.00 for eight (8) or more false alarms during any twelve month period. A permit may be revoked when excess of (12) false alarms occur within a one year period.
*A location must possess a valid permit for the police department to respond to an alarm.
If you are assessed a fee or a permit is denied or revoked, for which you believe an exception should be made, written appeal instructions will be provided to you.
The City of Irving has contracted with Alarm Tracking and Billing Services in Colorado Springs, Colorado to administer the false alarm reduction program. It would be cost prohibitive for the City of Irving to build, operate, and maintain a false alarm tracking and billing system.
Therefore, the City of Irving has contracted with this firm, which has expertise in administering false alarm reduction programs. This is a self funding program to reduce the number of false alarm calls.
Once identified, you will receive a registration notice on behalf of the city from Alarm Tracking and Billing Services.
False alarm includes:
• Negligently or accidentally activated signals.
• Signals resulting from mechanical or electronic failure, malfunction, improper installation, improper adjustment, or improper maintenance.
• Signals that are purposely activated in non-emergency situations.
Some commonly negligent acts include:
• Weak system batteries
• Open, unlocked, or loose fitting doors and windows
• Helium- filled balloons
• wandering pets