Bethlehem to increase alarm fees
By SSN Staff
Updated Wed September 22, 2010
BETHLEHEM, Pa.—A Sept. 20 story from the Morning Call reports business and residential alarm users may soon be paying more for their alarms.
City officials have unveiled a new ordinance that would force roughly 3,000 home and business owners with burglar and fire alarms to pay a new annual registration fee.
The proposal would update a 1987 ordinance and the fees would bring roughly $80,000 a year to a city desperate for new revenue.
Under the new law, the penalties for false alarms will also increase. There is still no fine for the first two false alarms in any calendar year. But penalties for a third and fourth false alarm in a year increase from $35 to $75, and additional false alarms will cost $200.
In addition, anyone who fails to register their alarm faces fines of $100 to $600 and up to 90 days in jail.
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