Ordinance 3679-19 - Laserfiche WebLink

Biz EVERETT WASHINGTON Ordinance No. 3679-19 An Ordinance establishing regulations for Alarm Systems for Law Enforcement Response, repealing Ordinances 494-78 and 865-82 (Chapter 9.10 EMC) Whereas,the City's current burglary and alarm ordinance was adopted in 1978. It essentially required alarm users to notify the Everett Police Department of any alarm system and imposed fines for multiple false alarms in a six-month period; and Whereas,the ordinance was enforced through 1991 with false alarm charges billed monthly. Billings ceased with the installation of a dispatch software system that did not support false alarm tracking. However, new software is in place allowing tracking of false alarm responses by law enforcement; and Whereas, data from 2017 and 2018 indicates that on average the Everett Police Department responds to about 382 confirmed false alarm calls each month. 94% of all premises alarms involving an Everett police response are reported by the responding officers to be false or unfounded, and less than 1% of those alarms resulted in a police report documenting a criminal act. Studies indicate that in some jurisdictions alarm calls can account for 10 to 25 percent of all police calls and that between 90 to 99 percent of alarm calls are false; and Whereas,responding to alarms often involves police vehicles using lights and sirens leading to greater risks to officers and the public; and Whereas,excessive false alarms unduly burdens the City's limited law enforcement resources; and Whereas, an effective alarm response protocol for the City is necessary to reduce false alarms by requiring licensing for alarm companies,requiring procedures for alarm monitoring companies to verify alarms before calling police, and charges for false alarm responses; and Whereas,the City's alarm regulations for law enforcement are dated and in the interest of the general public health, safety and welfare of the community,they need to be updated as reflected below; NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY OF EVERETT DOES ORDAIN: Section 1. Purpose. A. The purpose of this Ordinance is to improve the reliability and effectiveness of alarm systems, license the alarm industry in the City, encourage alarm owners and alarm companies to properly use and maintain alarm systems, require accurate alarm user contact information, reduce the number of false alarms occurring within the City and the resultant waste of City resources, recover the costs associated with responses to false alarms, and to provide for corrective measures when necessary. B. This Ordinance governs alarm systems intended to summon law enforcement response. This Ordinance establishes fees, provides for penalties for violations, establishes a system of administration, and sets conditions for suspension of police response.