False alarms from home security systems significantly decreased for the first time last year after increasing for the two previous years, according to village officials.
The number of false alarms decreased from 655 in 1999 to 578 in 2000, according to Village Manager V.M. “Cal” Doughty.
The decline reflects increased communication efforts with residents and requiring a permit for the systems. The alarm companies are now required to include their State of Illinois license number on their applications.
Fines are used to enforce the rules, Doughty said. Residents receive three “free” false alarms per year. After that, fines are $100 each for the fourth and fifth false alarms, $200 each for the sixth and seventh, and $300 thereafter.
Although the village has gone to court to enforce the fines, Doughty said it is not about the money.
“The false alarms cause a tremendous safety issue because officers come prepared to face an intruder,” he said during a recent board meeting. “We’re pleased to see the numbers decrease, but the number of false alarms is still way too high. It is 578 times of police officers going to nothing.”
