IRVINE

Beginning Oct. 1, police will enforce a law that requires alarm system users to have a city permit and punishes them with hefty fines for chronic false alarms. Homeowners and businesses with a permit will be allowed to have up to three false alarms without penalty. For false alarms four and five, residents pay $50 and businesses $100. The sixth false alarm will cost private homeowners $100 and businesses $200. “And with the seventh false alarm, the permit gets revoked and we no longer respond,” said Police Lt. Pat Rodgers, who heads the department’s preventive services bureau.

Without a permit, the going gets rough. Residents without the necessary paperwork will be given 30 days’ written warning. They then can be fined up to $300 if officers respond to a false alarm.