Dunwoody Readies a Crackdown on False Alarms

Dunwoody is set to adopt some rules around the thousands of alarms around the city that are set off most of the time when there is no emergency.

So far in 2012, there have been more than 2,000 alarm calls. Some 98 percent of them are false alarms, according to a city report.

Two officers respond to a possible emergencies in the city.

"If the officers are responding to false alarms they can't do other things," said Police Chief Billy Grogan to the council.

The city currently has no alarm ordinance. The proposal on the table would fine those who set off false alarm and collect permit fees to register alarms with the city.

The ordinance, which the council gave preliminary approval to Monday, would create a $15 registration fee and a graduated scale of fines for those who can't manage their alarms properly.

Under the current version of the regulations, two false alarms are freebies. The third would trigger a $50 civil penalty. Ten false alarms would cost $500.

The permits and fines are expected to be collected by a company selected by the city.

One issue in the ordinance raise some eyebrows from at least one councilmember. The ordinance, as it is written, would prevent officers from responding to the alarms of those who have had false alarms, been fined, and not paid their penalty.

"It causes me some heartburn that we wouldn't show up," said Denis Shortal.

The council also discussed permit fees that were different for businesses and residences.

The issue is expected to come back to council soon for a final vote. A fee schedule for the current version of the ordinance is attached to this article.