The Edmonton Police Service in Canada is looking for feedback on a proposal to levy a new $15-per-year fee against anyone registering a home security system. The fee is intended to help reduce the number of false alarms to which police are dispatched. “Each year, the EPS receives more than 6,300 alarm calls for service, of which 98 per cent are false alarms,” reads a letter sent to 15,000 alarm permit holders by police. Police say that many false calls puts a strain on resources.
Three years ago, police created a new verification system. After an alarm sounded, someone would call the homeowner to verify the alarm’s authenticity. The EPS website says the new measures have “significantly reduced the number of dispatched false alarms.” But the new letter says the practice also led to problems.
“Alarm permits have no expiry date. As a result, contact information for the permit holder and/or the associated key holders become out of date, making it difficult for police to reach a home or business owner to verify the emergency.” The new annual fee would require alarm owners to re-register every year, keeping contact information current. Currently, homeowners pay a one-time $30 alarm registration fee. They then pay $75 for every false alarm police respond to.
The letter suggests the new $15 annual fee would be in addition to the $30 one-time charge, but a first false alarm would be free. Every subsequent false alarm would be subject to an increasing fine amount. At the moment, police are only looking for feedback on the idea. The letter says a more formal proposal will be presented to Edmonton City Council this fall.
