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FALSE ALARM REDUCTION
PROGRAM
Alarms can be a nuisance. Continuous false alarms can
frustrate police officers and annoy neighbors. They also prove costly
both in time and money. Police Officers are often responding to false
alarms when other priority calls are pending. The Lodi Police Department
responds to approximately 180 FALSE ALARMS each month
for an average of 6 false alarms daily. Most false alarms occur as a
result of operator error. This program was designed to reduce the number
of false alarms.
LODI CITY ALARM ORDINANCE
Major Provisions of the City of Lodi Alarm Ordinance, (LMC 15.56) (revised
7/99)
- Alarm owners must purchase an Alarm Permit
BEFORE installation or use of an alarm system. Information
provided on the permit helps police properly respond to an alarm. A
permit fee of $25.00 is charged for residential customers with no
renewal fee. Commercial customers are charged an annual fee of $25.00.
- Operating an alarm without a permit can result in a fine or cause a
non-response by police. Offenders will be given notice and have 15 days
to file for a permit.
- It is unlawful to have an audible alarm that sounds like a siren or
rings for more than twenty minutes.
- Someone is required to respond to an activated alarm within twenty
minutes with access to the inside of the alarm location. This enables
police to investigate the alarm and verify that it is safe and secure.
- Alarm owners will be billed a service fee of $50.00 for each failure
to respond to an activated alarm within the required 20 minutes.
- A fee of $50.00 will be assessed when any location has more than two
false alarms during a six-month period. Billable periods are January 1
through June 30th and July 1st through December 31st. The fourth and
subsequent false alarm carries a fee of $75.00.
- Businesses or residences with chronic false alarms will be placed on
a non response list. The Lodi Police Department will not respond to
alarms at these locations until the problem is corrected and all fees
are paid.
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