NEWPORT BEACH : Police Set Public Meeting on Raising Burglar Alarm Fees

Residents and business owners with alarm systems will have a chance Wednesday to voice their concerns at the Police Department about a city plan to raise response fees to recoup the cost of answering false alarms.

Police Chief Robert J. McDonell told the City Council this week that false alarms make up 99% of all alarm responses, demanding 9.6% of police officers’ work time. He said the cost is difficult to quantify, but it could be as high as $1.8 million a year--9.6% of the police budget.

Unlike most cities, Newport Beach continues to monitor its 732 private alarms directly at the Police Department; it would continue to do so, but residents with alarms installed would have to pay more.

Alarm permits that cost $50 and do not expire would cost residents $25 every three years and businesses $30 a year if the plan is approved. Monthly monitoring fees would rise from $12.50 to $18.

The proposed changes are also designed to reduce the number of false alarms by increasing false alarm fines and spending $22,571 to install better monitoring equipment.

The city doesn’t charge for the first and second false alarms in a calendar year, but the fee is $50, $100 and $125 for each subsequent false alarm. The plan would shift the annual fine cycle from a calendar year to a year from the date of the first false alarm.

Part of the department’s request is for $20,500 for better software for the police and finance computers.

The City Council plans a public hearing on the fee hike for Sept. 26.