| Q: When and why was the False Alarm Ordinance enacted? |
A: The current version of the False Alarm Ordinance was enacted on January 23, 2003 to discourage continued false alarms at specific locations and to reduce the drain on police and fire resources responding to these false alarms. A recent study found that in 2002 police officers responded to over 25,000 alarms and found 99.7% of these to be false. Responding to false alarm calls consumes the equivalent of $400,000 in taxpayer money every year.
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| Q: How is the alarm determined to be false? |
A: The officer dispatched to the alarm determines if the alarm is false after checking the premises. If the officer does not find any evidence of a criminal activity, then a false alarm report is written. If you require further information, please call 651-6734.
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| Q: What if the incidents were not false alarms? I was actually the victim of a crime. |
A: You will need to contact the police department directly to have those incidents verified and removed from your record. Please call 651-6734.
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| Q: Under what circumstances can the report be dismissed or a waiver granted? |
A: Waivers can be granted for weather or power outages. However, there will be no adjustments made for equipment malfunction, alarm system maintenance, or disputes between an alarm company and their clients. If you require further information, please call 651-6734.
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| Q: The false alarms were the result of faulty equipment or maintenance on the alarm system, not user error. Am I still responsible for the bill? |
A: Registered users receive three false alarms each year to help cover these kinds of situations. However, if you have made a good faith effort to have your system repaired or your repair person forgot to take your system offline when working on it, then you should contact your alarm company directly about this bill.
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| Q: How do I register my alarm system with the City of Savannah? |
A: Customers: Alarm system users/subscribers are required to register their alarm systems through their alarm monitoring company. Alarm Businesses: All alarm system businesses with customers within the city limits of Savannah are required to register them pursuant to City of Savannah Code Section 6-2505. Please see the Alarm System Registration in the Customer Service section of this website. If you require further information, please call 651-6451.
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| Q: How much is the alarm registration fee? |
A: The annual registration fee is $12.00 per residential alarm user and $24.00 per commercial alarm user.
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| Q: How are false alarm fines billed and how much do they cost? |
A: Excessive false alarms for registered alarm users are considered to be any number in excess of three (3) false alarms during the 12-month billing cycle that runs from April 1st through March 31st. The fourth through sixth false alarms at a single location during the same time period will be billed at $100 per false alarm. The seventh through thirteenth false alarms will be billed at $150 each and the fourteenth and all subsequent false alarms during the same period will be billed at $200 per false alarm.
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| Q: How long do I have to pay a false alarm fine before my account is subject to suspension for alarm response? |
A: False alarm fines are due 30 days after the invoice is generated. If the fine has not been paid after 60 days, a letter of delinquency and intent to suspend alarm response will be mailed notifying the customer that they have 30 days to pay the balance on their account. (90 days total)
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| Q: How much do I have to pay to prevent suspension of alarm response? Can I make partial payments or set up a payment plan? |
A: All false alarm fines and fees due the city must be paid before the suspension date to avoid suspension. Although partial payments will be accepted, they will not prevent suspension of alarm response.
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| Q: Who makes the decision to reinstate a nuisance account? |
A: Decisions to reinstate nuisance accounts are made at the discretion of the police chief or his designee.
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