The Virginian-Pilot
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VIRGINIA BEACH
The city is trying to reduce the 22,000 false alarms received annually from home security systems by charging homeowners a $150 fee if police are called out more than twice.
The police department will hold a public awareness meeting on Dec. 3 at 7 p.m. at the Kempsville Recreation Center at 800 Monmouth Drive.
The meeting is targeted at homeowners with monitored security alarm systems and will cover two new city codes. The codes require owners to register their security systems and establishes a fee system for excessive false alarms.
The fee kicks in after two false alarms that police respond to, according to a police press release.
For more information go to www.vbgov.com/falsealarms.
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A tax is a tax is a tax....
No matter how you look at it this it's just another tax. Even though it is only assessed on people who have security systems on their homes- it's still another way for the spend happy VB city council to make money on its already overburdened citizens. By the way- what is up with the new code REQUIRING persons with alarm systems to register that system with the city? Just another way for big brother to keep tabs on who has what. JMO
Good job Beach PD
This is a good step for VB police. Security systems are made so cheap nowdays that anything sets off the alarm. Dust around a sensor, wind, and power surges frequently cause false alarms. It is a waste of resources when a police officer has to check a house because of these problems. It all comes back to cheap security systems. ADT doesn't care how many times officers respond to a false alarm, all they care about is their monthly fee.
Seems reasonable
That seems like a reasonable move to me. People will be far more willing to spend the money to fix a system if there's some financial motivation. How about a fee for car alarms that go off every time it gets a little windy?
Get rid of alarm systems
altogether and see where it leads. You will have more burglaries than you can count. When the hurricane hit here several years ago and the alarms were disabled, police could not keep up with the burglaries. Just another way to sqeeze it citizens. What else will they think of?
VB Taxpayers Beware
Well, it looks like the City of Virginia Beach has found a way to make
up the $81.2 Million Budget shortfall!
Now, that the gas prices are coming down. Virginia Beach is going to over tax it's residents.
This is a good idea.
This makes sense. However, how does the police department classify a "false alarm" should the would be robber or thief not complete their break in and simply not be around by the time the police arrive? Just asking.
Good
It's about time. I would be for charging them $250.