Friday, August 8, 2003

Fairburn considers new false alarms ordinance

By LINDSAY BIANCHI
Special to The Citizen

False alarm calls in Fairburn have cost the city thousands of dollars in personnel costs and equipment use in the last year. During the July 14 City Council meeting, the council learned that more than 1,050 false alarms were received over the past year in Fairburn.

With losses at about $28,000 in man hours and equipment costs, the city cites "poorly maintained equipment and careless employees" as the root of the problem.

Council member Harvey Melear, at last Monday's City Council meeting, was opposed to a new ordinance for false alarms.

"It's a penalty to businesses. I don't think we're handling it right. I wouldn't be surprised if 800 to 850 of those calls were legitimate false alarms," he said.

Melear felt that the city's nuisance law already in place would accomplish the same result.

The new ordinance states habitual false alarms, which is more than three in a 30-day period, will result in a fine of $50 for each subsequent indiscretion during that period. False alarms caused by natural disasters such as electrical storms will not be counted against the allotted tolerance.

For those habitually abusing their alarm systems, a court appearance will be required and a possible fine of $500 handed down if convicted.

"The problem is people become cavalier about it," said Police Chief Frederick Brown during the discussion.