"False alarm" means the activation of an alarm system through mechanical failure, accident, misoperation, malfunction, misuse, or the negligence of either the alarm user, operator or agent, or any of their employees or agents. False alarms shall not include alarms caused by acts of God, the malfunction of telephone or electrical lines, circuits or other causes which are beyond the control of the alarm user, operator or agent.
False alarms are accumulated within a rolling 365 day period:
False Alarm Penalty
1st & 2nd false alarm - No Charge
3rd false alarm $100.00
4th false alarm $150.00
5th false alarm $200.00
6th false alarm $300.00
7 or more false alarms $400.00/each occurrence
Any alarm user, operator or agent aggrieved by the decision of the issuing officer to suspend or revoke its permit or to impose an administrative penalty may appeal to the city manager within ten days of receipt of notice of the issuing officer's decision. The city manager or designee shall thereupon set the matter for an administrative hearing within fifteen days before an examiner. The examiner shall be neutral and unbiased, and may be a member of city staff. The examiner shall allow the issuing officer and the appellant each to present and examine all relevant evidence. The formal rules of evidence do not apply, but the examiner shall allow evidence of a nature which responsible persons are accustomed to rely upon in the conduct of serious affairs to be admissible upon the issue. The review and written decision of the hearing examiner shall be final and constitute the exhaustion of administrative remedy. It shall be served upon the permittee and issuing officer, accompanied by a certificate of mailing, no later than fifteen days following the hearing.
Submit a written request/statement as to why you feel the charge and/or occurrence should be waived or removed from your account, along with any supporting documentation (police reports, alarm company documentation, etc).
*Submit via email using the Contact Us page or via email nationalcityca@citysupport.org.
*Be sure to include Permit License #, alarm location address, and incident date(s) in question.
Alarm Program Systems will forward all documents provided by the Alarm user, Installation company or Monitoring company to the National City respective designee to review and render the decision.
National City will inform Alarm Program Systems of any adjustments which need to be made on the account once the appeal decision has been completed.
How to Reduce False Alarms
- Be sure to have a good quality alarm system that has been installed by a licensed alarm company.
- Continually train all of your employees on the alarm system to ensure they will be familiar with the code and how the system works.
- Have your alarm system tested on a regular basis.
- Have your alarm company provide you with a cancellation code and make sure all authorized users know it.