Current Ordinances (Not a complete list, working on adding other cities)

  Baton Rouge                          New Orleans                      West Monroe

  Lafayette                              Shreveport

  Monroe                                 St. Tammany

Residential False Alarms Prevention                           

• A). Did you know that the three major causes of false alarms are: 1) user errors; 2) installation or service errors; and 3) equipment failures?
• B). Did you know that more than 80% of false alarms are related to preventable user errors?
• C). Did you know that 20% of alarm users cause 80% of all false alarms?
• D). Do you think alarmed locations are entitled to unlimited police response?
• E). Do you think you are at greater risk when police, accustomed to responding to chronic false alarms, respond to a real emergency at your location?

The reality is that police resources are limited and should never be wasted.  Thousands of police patrol hours are spent investigating alarm reports that turn out to be "False Alarms".

Alarm companies and alarm users must be responsible for the use and maintenance of alarm systems to help ensure prompt police response when an emergency really does exist.

What is a False Alarm?

"A false alarm is notification of an alarm to police department when the responding authority finds no evidence of criminal offense or attempted criminal offense."

Common Causes of False Alarms

• 1).  Inadequate training of people allowed access to your security system (children, neighbors, cleaning personnel, real estate agents, guest, relatives, babysitters, service and delivery personnel, etc.
• 2).  Weak system batteries.
• 3).  Open, unlocked or loose fitting doors and windows.
• 4).  Drafts from heaters and air conditioning systems that move plants, curtains, balloons, etc.
• 5).  Wandering pets.

False Alarms.....

Take police and fire fighters away from real emergencies. This embarrassing situation endangers responding authorities and the whole community by needlessly diverting public safety resources.

Desensitizes communities to actual incidents of crime and fire and can lead to neighbors ignoring your alarm when it goes off.

Make you security system less reliable and credible.

May make you reluctant to arm your system, exposing your home and property to undetected theft or fire.

Cost citizens time, personal security and money, as many jurisdictions assess costly fines for excessive false alarms.

Installing & Activating an Alarm System

Check with your local jurisdiction to see if you are required to register your alarm system.

When purchasing an alarm system you must remember that you are a vital part of the alarm function.  You must completely understand how the system works, what it does and does not do, and what you must do to keep it in proper operating condition.

Ensure all users of your system are provided adequate and thorough instruction on using and testing the system.  Ask your alarm company to provide you with written instructions as well as a physical demonstration.

How Can You Prevent False Alarms?

1). Before activating your systems...

     a). Lock all protected doors and windows.

     b). Keep pets, balloons, fans, heaters, plants, curtains, seasonal decorations, etc. away from motion sensor areas.

     c). Know how to cancel the alarm if the system activates.

2). Educate alarm system users.....

    a). All users, key holders or any person with legal access to your property must be thoroughly trained in how to operate your system, including knowledge of correct arming codes, pass codes, telephone numbers and procedures for canceling accidental alarm activations.

3). Have your security company check and service your system regularly...

    a). Routine maintenance can help prevent many false alarms.

4). Notify your security company if...

   a). You think your system isn't working properly.

   b). You plan any remodeling, including replacing doors or windows, hanging drywall, sanding floors, installing attic flooring or basement ceiling, changing phone systems, installing intercoms, siding, ceiling fans or skylights, fumigating, installing wiring for cable other electronics, installing anything near the system control panel or keypads.

   c). You hire domestic help, get a new pet, plan to sell your house, or are testing your system.

5). Contact your jurisdiction's Alarm Coordinator if...

   a). You have a phone service or name change, or if situations change, such as a disabled per now residing at your residence, etc.

6). Your central monitoring station should not request a police dispatch for power outgages, low battery signals or loss of telephone connections.

7). Replace old police department direct-connect monitoring equipment with newer, high security monitoring technology.  Dirty or wet phone lines, telephone repairment and service interruptions do not require police response!

8). Upgrade old alarm systems to current equipment conforming to Security Industry Association false alarm prevention standards, further reducing false alarms.

Information provided by False Alarm Reduction Assocaition (FARA) and National Burglar & Fire Alarm Assocation (NBFAA).