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Council reviews proposal to fine repeat false burglary alarms; police to track via county CAD logs
Summary
Statham police proposed a false-burglary-alarm ordinance that would impose escalating fines after repeated false alarms in a calendar year and create a registry; Major Daniels said CAD logs from the county 911 center will be used to track incidents.
Statham police presented a proposed ordinance on Aug. 4 that would allow the city to issue fines for repeat false burglary alarms and create a registry of alarmed properties to help manage responses and preserve police resources.
Major Daniels said the city already tracks calls through the county 911 center's CAD system and that staff have responded to more than 25 false alarms at one residence since October. The proposal described a residential schedule of no charge for the first two false alarms in a calendar year, then escalating fines (example given: $50 for the third, $100 for the fourth and $250 for the fifth); commercial alarms would face a tighter schedule (no charge first alarm, $50 second, $200 third, $400 fourth). Daniels said officers would retain discretion and the city could choose not to issue citations in appropriate circumstances.
City staff explained the fee schedule is intended to encourage maintenance of alarm systems and reduce recurring calls that divert police resources. Councilors asked for clarifications on enforcement mechanics and the relationship with the county 911 center; staff said CAD profiling and dispatch logs would be used to count incidents.
