False Alarm Reduction
False alarms are costly, waste valuable police service, and jeopardize the safety of police and citizens when officers respond to a call that may or may not be a crime. The City of Renton developed an Alarm Ordinance (Ordinance No. 4852; RMC 6-3) that includes business and residential alarm systems. This ordinance went into effect on September 10, 2000.
In 2009, the Renton Police Department received 3,083 alarm calls (approximately 8 per day) and 3,021 of those calls were false alarms. Only 62 of these alarm calls were valid. The Police Department spent 2,080 hours responding to the alarms, which cost taxpayers approximately $72,550. Many other police departments have similar programs in place and have found that it has made a significant impact in reducing responses to false alarms.
The ordinance states: "No person shall operate or use an alarm system on any premises under that person's control, within the City of Renton, without first having obtained from the Police Department a separate registration for each premises protected by an alarm system."
Under the ordinance, an "alarm user" is defined as any person, firm, partnership, association, corporation, company, or organization of any kind from whom a registration is required under this chapter who/which uses or is in control of any alarm system at its alarm site.
The City of Renton does not charge to have an alarm registered with the Police Department. However, alarm users who fail to register within 30 days after their system becomes operational will be charged a late registration penalty of $50.
The Police Department is not required to respond to an alarm if there is an unpaid fine, six false alarms have occurred in one calendar year, or a registration has not first been obtained. Following is a list of fines associated with false alarms:
- Late registration penalty: $50
- 1-3 false alarms: no charge
- 4-5 false alarms: $50 fine each
- 6 or more false alarms: $100 fine each and may be subject to No Police Response
The Police Department holds free educational classes to help prevent false alarms.
To register your alarm, call (425) 430-7646 and leave your name, address, and phone number. A registration form will be mailed or faxed to you. The Alarm Registration Application may be downloaded from this website. After completing and returning the alarm registration to the Police Department, you will receive a registration number in the mail.
Email the False Alarm Reduction Program Coordinator
Good information to know before purchasing an alarm system