There’s something extra coming in the mail this month for homeowners who have failed to heed warnings to make their burglar alarms comply with new municipal rules – a bill.
Manteca is billing homeowners collectively $13,000 for police response to false residential burglar alarms with those who failed to register their alarms for free with the city getting slapped with another charge.
It is part of the effort to balance the municipal budget.
Actually it isn’t as much about raising revenue – which is being used as the stick to force compliance – as it is to free up limited resources.
Police Chief Dave Bricker said residents were alerted about the coming charges including a mass mailing with the municipal utility bills. Also alarm companies that monitor alarms in Manteca were contacted well in advance to alert their clients as well. It costs nothing to register your alarm. You can do so by going online to the police department page on the municipal website at www.ci.manteca.ca.us and downloading the form.
“All it costs is a stamp and an envelope,” Bricker noted.
Manteca has 23,618 residential units. There are currently 1,312 burglar alarm permits issued or about 5.6 percent of the housing stock. During 2008, police responded to 3,527 residential burglary alarms. Mechanical failure or owner error accounted for 98.7 percent of those calls and not criminal activity.
Each alarm response took an average of 18 minutes to respond, check the structure and contact the owner. Due to the nature of the calls it requires two officers. Manteca Police devoted 2,116 hours last year responding to false alarms. It costs over $80,000 a year in manpower to respond to false alarms or $22.68 per incident.
Bricker said unlike some cities such as Modesto that no longer respond to residential alarms Manteca will continue to do so. Homeowners, though, must have two contacts provided with their registration form as who they should contact if they are called to the home. There is a charge if officers are unable to reach a responsible contact and have to stay and secure the property.
Prior to July 1 the city allowed two false alarm responses a month without charging. The third, fourth, and fifth call each month resulted in a $50 charge each.
There previously was no charge for not having an alarm permit or for the owner failing to respond. The new ordinance that is now in effect charges $200 for no alarm permit and $100 if the owner fails to respond.
The new rules limit false alarms to two a year and not two a month. There is no charge for the first two responses. The third false response is $100, the fourth response is $200, and the fifth is $400.
The city gave those who have alarms but no city permit for them until June 30, 2009 to obtain one. The alarm permit comes with details on the owner’s responsibility and city policies plus provides police with contact information.
The contract for alarm service is between the alarm company and the alarm owner and is not binding on the city.
Manteca is billing homeowners collectively $13,000 for police response to false residential burglar alarms with those who failed to register their alarms for free with the city getting slapped with another charge.
It is part of the effort to balance the municipal budget.
Actually it isn’t as much about raising revenue – which is being used as the stick to force compliance – as it is to free up limited resources.
Police Chief Dave Bricker said residents were alerted about the coming charges including a mass mailing with the municipal utility bills. Also alarm companies that monitor alarms in Manteca were contacted well in advance to alert their clients as well. It costs nothing to register your alarm. You can do so by going online to the police department page on the municipal website at www.ci.manteca.ca.us and downloading the form.
“All it costs is a stamp and an envelope,” Bricker noted.
Manteca has 23,618 residential units. There are currently 1,312 burglar alarm permits issued or about 5.6 percent of the housing stock. During 2008, police responded to 3,527 residential burglary alarms. Mechanical failure or owner error accounted for 98.7 percent of those calls and not criminal activity.
Each alarm response took an average of 18 minutes to respond, check the structure and contact the owner. Due to the nature of the calls it requires two officers. Manteca Police devoted 2,116 hours last year responding to false alarms. It costs over $80,000 a year in manpower to respond to false alarms or $22.68 per incident.
Bricker said unlike some cities such as Modesto that no longer respond to residential alarms Manteca will continue to do so. Homeowners, though, must have two contacts provided with their registration form as who they should contact if they are called to the home. There is a charge if officers are unable to reach a responsible contact and have to stay and secure the property.
Prior to July 1 the city allowed two false alarm responses a month without charging. The third, fourth, and fifth call each month resulted in a $50 charge each.
There previously was no charge for not having an alarm permit or for the owner failing to respond. The new ordinance that is now in effect charges $200 for no alarm permit and $100 if the owner fails to respond.
The new rules limit false alarms to two a year and not two a month. There is no charge for the first two responses. The third false response is $100, the fourth response is $200, and the fifth is $400.
The city gave those who have alarms but no city permit for them until June 30, 2009 to obtain one. The alarm permit comes with details on the owner’s responsibility and city policies plus provides police with contact information.
The contract for alarm service is between the alarm company and the alarm owner and is not binding on the city.
