LOS ANGELES : Tougher Penalties OKd for False Security Alarms

Hoping to reduce the number of false alarms that police must answer, the Los Angeles City Council voted Wednesday to impose tougher penalties on the owners of security systems that generate false calls.

Although the measure was endorsed by police, it prompted an acrimonious, hourlong debate that ended with a 9-5 vote. Several council members endorsed the measure only after its backers agreed at the last minute to adopt the new penalties on a one-year trial basis.

Because the vote failed to get a 12-vote majority, it will require a second vote next week before it becomes law. However, police officials said they were not sure when they could begin to impose the new penalties.

Now, owners of security alarm systems that generate more than four false alarms in a 12-month period face an $80 fine. The new law imposes the fine after the second false call.

In addition, owners of security alarms not registered with the Police Department can be charged with a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 or a year in jail, after the first false alarm. The law now only imposes a fine of $80 for owners who fail to register their systems.