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Posted: 1:15 PM Jun 9, 2010
New System For Tracking Alarms Goes Into Effect
Lincoln An ordinance aimed at reducing Lincoln's false alarm rate will officially go into effect on July 1st, 2010.
Reporter: KOLNKGIN Email Address: desk@1011now.com |
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4 Comments 
In December of last year, the city approved a false alarm reduction ordinance aimed at minimizing the overall number of false alarms requiring police response. Alarm system businesses and alarm system
users are required register under the new ordinance. Registration of alarm systems is key to effectively enforcing the law. A link to on-line registration is conveniently available on the City of Lincoln website
or go directly to CryWolf (www.crywolf.us/lincolne). A help-line has also been established - (877) 263-6027. Once registered, users will be issued a logon and password, so they may check their account at any
time. Existing alarm businesses and users must register by August 30, 2010.
The ordinance requires businesses and residents to pay a series of fees for every false alarm call, beginning with the seventh offense. The first six calls, during the two year registration period, are
essentially free. After that, fees start at $100 and reach up to $250. Fees will also be assessed for those that fail to register.
The Lincoln Police Department responded to 3,183 false alarms in 2009. “Responding to false alarms is not only time consuming, but is also dangerous,” Lincoln Police Chief Tom Casady stated. “Reducing
false alarm response is safer for officers and the community. I believe that false alarms can be reduced without negatively impacting our ability to catch burglars in the act.”
Earlier this year, the Lincoln Police Department contracted with CryWolf, a Maryland-based alarm monitoring service developed by AOT Public Safety Corporation. Services provided by the company will
be free to the police department. CryWolf will receive a percentage of the fees paid by repeat offenders. The remaining money will be deposited into the City’s general fund.
An appeal process has also been established for alarm owners that wish to dispute imposed fees. The Alarm Review Board is a panel consisting of two representatives from separate alarm businesses, a
member of the Lincoln Police Department, a citizen from a Lincoln neighborhood association and a person from the local business community. For more information, refer to Lincoln Municipal Code
Chapter 5.56 Emergency Alarm Systems.
Courtesy: Lincoln Police Department
Latest Comments
Just another tax for the great city of Lincoln. I believe in false alarm fees but don't throw another tax on people for just trying to protect their homes and businesses. I wonder how this reduce false alarms> If we buy Storm alert radios for our homes will this reduce storms. It just away to get more money for the city because they can't manage the money they have. This is the most ridiculous think I ever heard of.
Richard appears to think that it's still 1968. It's not, that was over 40 years ago.
Anonymous appears to be new to the area, not own any electonics and never sat through a good old fashioned mid-western lightning storm. I moved to Lincoln in '68 to work for the feds. Those were the days of LT&T. I am sure it is better today but Mother Nature just LOVES to play alarms like hand bells. It has improved but my phone and lights still go out during many of the big storms and I am sure they play havoc with the alarms. The moon, blue or otherwise is not shining when the alarms go crazy.
Alarm systems are terrific, but if you have one, it's your responsibility to see that it's installed, maintained, and managed properly. This includes where motion detectors are placed, and what is in their covered area. It's also your job to make sure that everyone on your staff or in your family understands how to arm and disarm it properly. False alarms should be once in a blue moon, but due to poor installation, operation, and maintenance, they aren't.
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