Foster City false alarms will be costly
By SSN Staff
Updated Mon August 22, 2011
FOSTER CITY, Calif.—An Aug. 16 story from the Foster City Patch reports changes in Foster City's false alarm ordinance have been enacted as a means of recouping costs involved for responders.
The changes include a reduction in the number of free false alarms before a fine is imposed, and the addition of a fine enhancement for multiple high risk false alarms.
Additionally, the annual tracking period was changed from the calendar year to July-June.
The previous city ordinance permitted three false alarms a year before a fine was imposed. The new ordinance reduces the number of free false alarms to only one per year. On a second false alarm call, the city will charge $50 for a standard response and $100 for a high-risk response. The fees continue to escalate with every false alarm.
The fine enhancement applies to panic alarms, often manually activated by a person in need, as well as to robbery (hold-up) alarms.
The changes began July 1, 2011.
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