Fine Policy Set on False Alarms in La Canada
The La Canada Flintridge City Council on Monday set fines for homes and businesses that log more than three false burglar alarms in one year.
Under the new law, the city will charge businesses or homeowners $100 for the fourth false alarm, $200 for the fifth and $500 for each subsequent false alarm.
City Manager Don Otterman said each false alarm costs La Canada Flintridge $50 and ties up two Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department patrol cars for at least an hour. False alarms cost about $50,000 a year in lost manpower, he said.
The ordinance was opposed by some La Canada Flintridge residents and members of the Los Angeles County Burglar and Fire Alarm Assn., who said that alarms sometimes go off for no apparent reason. They said the law discourages residents from protecting their property.
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