After more than a year of talks Johns Creek has not settled on details of a proposed ordinance it hopes will reduce the thousands of false alarms police and fire departments respond to each year.
The subject has been batted about at City Council work sessions a couple of times since the issue was last discussed two months ago, but nothing formal has been proposed. The issue is not on the agenda for today's council meeting.
Police Chief Ed Densmore reported his department has received 2,860 alarms in the six months from March to August. Of that number, about 98 percent were false alarms, and 1,622 were repeat offenders. All repeat offenders were businesses. One address had 30 false alarms.
"I'm dealing with a finite number of manpower," Densmore told the council in September. "These calls, averaging 477 a month, is costing me the manpower that I have available which could be allocated somewhere else."
Fire Chief Joseph Daniels reported 625 false alarms in the past year which represents 12 percent of the department’s call volume. Responding to false alarms, he said, accounted for $3,000 in fuel costs alone.
Mayor Mike Bodker has said he wants violators to help pay for their mistakes.
"Why can't we ... fine the heck out of those who are actually violating this and causing a false alarm and not cause any expense to the rest of us?" Bodker said.
The City Council reviewed one proposal that set fines for repeat offenders and encouraged property owners to register their alarms. Another draft established a registration fee for all alarms, but that requirement drew mixed reaction. On the other hand, the council has debated whether the city should require all alarms be registered or whether to make it mandatory for businesses only.
Fire and police officials have lobbied for some way to track the person responsible for a false alarm. They said that is most difficult for business alarms. By mandating registration, they said, they could hold someone accountable who can hopefully fix the problem.
Fines have been proposed ranging from $50 for from three to five false alarms to $500 for 10 or more.
Here's a look at what other jurisdictions have done:
Alpharetta -- Alarm registration is free and voluntary. Property owners guilty of false alarms in the past must register and pay a $50 fee. Civil fines for repeat false alarms kick in on the second incident, when a fine of $50 is levied. Five and more false alarms are assessed $125 each.
Doraville -- The city requires registration, permits and decals for alarm systems. The charge is $50. Property owners are allowed four false alarms in a year. After that, fees kick in starting at $50 and climb by $25 for each subsequent false alarm. After nine instances, the permit is revoked and cannot be reissued without paying a $150 fee.
Duluth -- No registration or fee is required. Property owners are fined $25 for each violation after the fourth false alarm.
Milton -- The city requires registration, but no fee is charged. Owners get one false alarm with no fine. After than, each incident incurs a $150 fine.
Marietta -- Registration is required, but no fee is assessed. A fine of $50 begins after the second alarm; sixth and seventh false alarms incur fines of $100; eighth and ninth incidents are assessed $250 fines. Ten or more violations incur $500 fines.
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