Tag: CAA
New California bill protects alarm companies from false alarm fines
August 23, 2017Spencer Ives
MARINA DEL REY, Calif.—California Gov. Jerry Brown on July 31 signed AB 1616 by Assemblyman Adrin Nazarian into law, bringing false alarm fines to the alarm permit holders, not alarm companies, unless the alarm company is responsible.“This bill would prohibit an alarm company operator or an alarm agent from being liable for civil penalties and fines assessed by a city, county, or city and county for false alarms not attributed to alarm company operator error, improper installation of...
The approach to false alarms
August 23, 2017Spencer Ives
Here at Security Systems News, we cover a variety of topics related to the physical security industry. As a result, we get to track trends in the industry; we see when they first come up and we see when they become more prevalent. The matter of false alarms is one that I can say I've been watching since I started with SSN.
Some municipalities have sought to fine alarm companies for users' false alarms. In late 2014, shortly after I joined the publication, I was speaking with the Security Industry...
Chico revises ordinance, stops fining alarm companies
April 8, 2015Spencer Ives
In October, the City of Chico, Calif., passed an ordinance to fine alarm companies for false alarm dispatches. The California Alarm Association and SIAC responded, citing precedence in Fontana, Calif., where a similar ordinance was overturned. Now, the City of Chico has opted toward the standard action of fining alarm users for false alarms.
Jon Sargent in November told Security Systems News that SIAC remained available to help revise the ordinance.
SIAC is pleased with the outcome, Stan Martin,...
CAA fights Chico on ordinance
November 24, 2014Spencer Ives
CHICO, Calif.—The California Alarm Association (CAA) and the Sacramento Area Alarm Association (SAAA) are filing a lawsuit against the city of Chico, Calif., after the city on Oct. 21 unanimously passed an ordinance that fines alarm companies for false alarms.“Here's the bottom line: Innocent parties are being fined for the conduct of others that's beyond their control, and that's the core of why we have to fight this, and we can't allow this to take place anywhere.” Jon Sargent,...
Cooperation spells success in Sacramento
August 1, 2012Rich Miller
FRISCO, Texas—Add Sacramento to the list of SIAC success stories.The Security Industry Alarm Coalition, working with the California Alarm Association and Sacramento's police department, announced last week that SIAC's best practices have been incorporated into the city's revised alarm ordinance. The guidelines include annual permit fees and enhanced call verification to reduce false dispatches and maintain police response.Rich Whitlock, Northern CAA vice president, said the revised ordinance...
Meeting targets non-response in San Jose
January 27, 2012Rich Miller
The alarm industry was caught off guard at the end of December when the San Jose (Calif.) Police Department implemented a non-response policy for unverified alarms. Now the California Alarm Association is regrouping and is rallying members to discuss what comes next.
To that end, the Silicon Valley Alarm Association, a CAA affiliate, will be holding a lunch meeting next week, with the San Jose situation at the top of the agenda. The meeting is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 1, at the Silicon...
San Jose's non-response policy catches alarm industry off guard
January 4, 2012Rich Miller
SAN JOSE, Calif.—The police department's new non-response policy for unverified alarms, announced the week before Christmas and put into effect Jan. 1, ignores data on enhanced call verification and rolls out a “welcome mat” for burglars, alarm industry officials say.The San Jose Police Department announced the policy change on its website in a posting titled “Verified Response Protocol Information.” Citing a 2008 department study that found that more than 98 percent...
New CO law business, learning opportunity
August 11, 2011Tess Nacelewicz
MARINA DEL REY, Calif.—California recently became the 35th state in the nation with carbon monoxide legislation. As of July 1, all existing single-family homes with an attached garage or a fossil fuel source are required to install CO alarms within the home. Previous legislation already mandated the detectors in new homes.
The law is a way for the industry both to increase business and its knowledge and expertise regarding the devices, according to John Hopper, president of the California Alarm...