Council committee approves Exec. Regulation 12-25 to raise alarm registration fees and tighten standards

The Montgomery County Public Safety Committee on July 7 approved Executive Regulation 12-25, which updates alarm policies and raises registration fees, by acclamation.

Council staff summarized the regulation and fiscal impact: biannual alarm-user renewal would rise from $10 to $20 and commercial alarm-user registration from $30 to $60; the regulation adds a technical standard requiring audible alarms to automatically silence annunciators within 30 minutes of activation. The fiscal impact statement transmitted with the regulation projected county revenues could increase by $260,000 if the regulation is approved and estimated total revenues of about $1,600,000 for FY 2026.

Council questions focused on service and false-alarm handling. Members asked how the department distinguishes unregistered, non-monitored consumer alerts (for example from doorbell or camera systems) from monitored alarm calls, and how non-registration affects police response. Department staff said verified reports of suspicious activity or an ongoing burglary will still prompt dispatch, but that official alarm registration lets the county hold repeat users accountable through graduated fines and supports a false-alarm reduction unit that proactively works with businesses and residents.

Staff and the budget director described a false-alarm reduction unit that visits chronic locations, assists with registration and corrects installation problems, and noted that registration supports fine enforcement and more reliable triage of calls to avoid dispatching officers to avoidable false alarms.

Outcome: the committee approved the regulation by acclamation and adjourned.