Excessive false alarms unduly burden the Wheeling Police Department's limited law enforcement resources. An Ordinance was established to set guidelines for alarm users. The purpose of the Ordinance is to establish reasonable expectations of alarm users and to ensure that alarm users are held responsible for their use of alarm systems.
In accordance with the Ordinance, the Council of the City of Wheeling approved Policies and Procedures for the administration and enforcement of this Section which is on file with the following departments: Police, Municipal Court, City Clerk and Legal. A fee schedule for alarm registration and excessive false alarms is also established as follows:
(a) Excessive False Alarms/Failure to Register. It is hereby found and determined that two or more false alarms within a permit year is excessive, constitutes a public nuisance, and shall be unlawful. Civil penalties for false alarms within a permit year may be assessed against an alarm user as follows:
First false alarm | Free |
Second false alarm | $ 50.00* |
Third and fourth false alarm | $100.00 |
Fifth and sixth false alarm | $200.00 |
Seventh and eighth false alarm | $300.00 |
Ninth and over false alarm | $400.00 |
*Fee waived for second false alarm only if user attends alarm class
(b) Additional Fees.
Failure to Register | $100.00 |
Failure to Renew | $ 25.00 |
(c) Other Civil Penalty(ies). Violations may be enforced through the assessment of civil penalty(ies) in the amount of $100.00 per violation.
(d) Payment of Civil Penalty(ies). Civil penalty(ies) shall be paid within thirty (30) days from the date of the invoice.
(e) Discontinuance of Law Enforcement Response. The failure of an alarm user to make payment of any civil penalty(ies) assessed under this section within thirty (30) days from the date of the invoice may result in discontinuance of law enforcement response to alarm signals that may occur at the premises described in the alarm user's permit until payment is received or if the Wheeling Police Department responds to nine or more false alarms in a permit year and the City declares the alarm to be a nuisance.
(f) Civil Non Criminal Violation. A violation of any of the provisions of this section shall be a civil violation and shall not constitute a misdemeanor or infraction.
(Ord. 14742. Passed 10-6-15.)
(Ord. 14742. Passed 10-6-15.)