Leesburg, Va. adopting new false alarm ordinance
By SSN Staff
Updated Thu September 30, 2010
LEESBURG, Va.—A Sept. 29 story from Leesburg Today reports Leesburg will begin charging for law enforcement response to repeat false alarms at homes and businesses.
The Loudoun County (in which Leesburg is located) Board of Supervisors instituted a false alarm ordinance in 2005 to levy fines on businesses and residents who trigger more than two false alarms in a year. Following the third false alarm, a $100 fine is levied and fines increase on subsequent calls to a maximum of $1,000 per false alarm for residences, beginning on the 15th false alarm, and $4,000 per false alarm for businesses, beginning on the 20th false alarm. The ordinance also mandates that an alarm inspection be conducted after the third false alarm. The ordinance also requires that the alarm be registered biannually and that the alarm provider be licensed by the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services. The ordinance also specifies only certified equipment be installed.
By agreeing to implement the county false alarm ordinance in town, the council has agreed to let the sheriff's office coordinate the management of the program, with 25 percent of the revenues collected from the false alarm fees staying with the county government as a management fee.
Comments