We all know how good it feels to breathe a sigh of relief once your home security system is properly installed. You know you can sleep more soundly and be more confident that your property is protected when you’re away. But don’t forget that all-important last step: registering your home security system with your local law enforcement agency. If you don’t, you might be facing substantial fees if the police are called out to your property on a false alarm.
Take Melrose, California, for example. At the beginning of the calendar year, Police Chief Mike Lyle sent out a reminder to all residents who had installed a new home security system in their home or at their place of business, as well as those who’d moved into a home with an existing burglar alarm, to register it with the Melrose Police Department. The registration is free and helps residents and business owners avoid penalties for false alarms. In the city of Melrose, a $50 fee is issued to homeowners who haven’t listed their burglar alarms in the event that the police are called out for a false alarm. The reason is simple: when officers respond to a false alarm and they don’t know who the owner of the property is, it can be a time consuming process to track the owner down. And if the home security system doesn’t reset, the situation becomes even more complicated. The fee system was introduced a couple of years ago to avoid scenarios like these and allow the police to concentrate on real issues by requiring homeowners to supply correct contact information so they can be reached immediately in the event of a false alarm. According to Police Chief Lyle, “If your alarm goes off and doesn’t reset, we want to have the ability to reset the alarm.” In Melrose, if you have registered your home security system, the first three false alarms each year are free of charge, while a fourth will cost you $50, and all following false alarms result in a fine of $100.
Most cities in the US have a similar home security system registration policy, though their exact requirements and fees may vary. If you’ve installed a new burglar alarm or have bought a property with an existing one, call your local police department as soon as possible to find out how to register it. It’s free, it’s easy, and it can save you lots of money in the long run.
