Divisions/District Stations — False Alarm Reduction Section

BACKGROUND

The Montgomery County Police are requested to respond to over 45,000 false alarms each year. Alarm legislation was adopted because of concerns over police officer safety and to eliminate the misuse of police resources, which results in the waste of approximately 20 work years of police officer time and costs millions of dollars annually. Unfounded alarm calls reduce the police department's effectiveness and undermines our ability to respond to more critical calls.

FALSE ALARM REDUCTION SECTION

The False Alarm Reduction Section (FARS) of the Montgomery County Department of Police was created to administer the County's alarm law. The FARS's main function is to reduce the number of false alarms to which police respond each year. The FARS licenses alarm companies, registers alarm users, sends notification of false alarms and bills for excessive false alarms to alarm users, ensures that appropriate inspections and upgrades of alarm systems occur, and handles informal appeals regarding the false designation of alarm activations.

HOW THE LAW WORKS

          Every alarm user is allowed one “free” false alarm in a calendar year.  False alarm response fees are imposed for the second and each subsequent false alarm in a calendar year.  The false alarm response fee for residential and commercial alarm users begins at $25 for second false alarm.  Fees will escalate to $1,000 per false alarm for residential alarm users and $4,000 per false alarm for commercial alarm users.  Please refer to the False Alarm Response Fee Schedule for more detailed information.

One the third false alarm in a calendar year, the alarm user must have the alarm system inspected by a licensed alarm company.  The purpose of this inspection is to ensure that all mechanical components of the alarm system are in good operating condition, as well as afford your alarm company an opportunity to re-educate all those using the system on its proper use.

            On the sixth false alarm in a calendar year, the alarm user must have the alarm system upgraded to meet current County installation standards. 

            You will be considered in violation of the alarm law if you fail to:  

• register your alarm system,
• pay imposed false alarm response fees, or
• upgrade the alarm system, as required. 

            Alarm companies are prohibited from requesting dispatch for seven days after registration of alarm system, unless there is waiver granted by the FARS due to imminent danger to people or property.  This is referred to as a “burn-in” or “soak” period.