HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-OR-11ORDINANCE N0.2009-OR-11
ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING SERVICE CHARGES FOR FALSE ALARMS
REPORTED TO JEFFERSONVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT
WHEREAS, the City of Jeffersonville typically responds to burglar alarms when notified
by alarm companies and/or individuals; and
WHEREAS, many persons who are the owners of property where burglar alarms are
installed, are negligent and careless, regarding the use of those alarms; and
WHEREAS, continuous false alarms lower the efficiency and prepared ness of the
officers of the Jeffersonville Police Department thereby causing persons with actual alarms or
emergencies to be disadvantaged; and
WHEREAS, experience has indicated that when persons are assessed penalties for
reporting false alarms that the number of false alarms decrease dramatically.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COMMON COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF JEFFERSONVILLE that no person, corporation, business, private and/or not
for profit hospital, residential facility or other entity shall report a false alarm to the City of
Jeffersonville Police Department.
"False alarm" means, in the case of a burglar alarm, an alarm signal or recorded message
indicating, an attempted or unauthorized intrusion into a structure or the attempted commission
of a crime, when it fact no evidence exists upon inspection of the premises upon response to such
alarm.
Persons who report false alarms to the City of Jeffersonville Police Department shall be
fined as follows during any calendar year:
(1) Three false alarms shall be allowed at no penalty to the property owner.
(2) The fourth false alarm shall result in a $150.00 fine.
(3) The St" false alarm shall result in a $250.00 fine.
(4) The 6t~' and all other subsequent false alarms shall result in a $350.00 fine
Any company reporting an alarm as the agent for an alarm holder shall be jointly and
severally liable for the payment of fines as outlined above.
The Chief of Police shall designate an individual to be in charge of tracking all reported
false alarms reported to the Jeffersonville Police Department.
That upon the report of a false alarm the designated person above shall send notice to the
offending property owner of the fine owed by the property owner in accordance to the above
schedule of fines.
The property owner shall have 14 days in which to pay the fine.
Failure to pay the assessed fine shall result in the matter being filed in the Jeffersonville
City Court. The property owner and/or alarm company would then be subject to court costs in
addition to the appropriate fine above.
All fines collected in violation of this ordinance and in response to false alarms
responded to by the Jeffersonville Police Department shall be paid directly to the Jeffersonville
Police Automobile Non-Reverting Fund.
This Ordinance shall become effective thirty days after its passage upon it last reading.
Passed and adopted by the Common Council of the City of Jeffersonville, Clark County,
Indian the 16`x' da of March, 2009.
homas Galligan,- yo
Attest:
Pegg der, City Clerk Treasurer
Presented by me as Clerk Treasurer of the City of Jeffersonville this 16t~' day of March, 2009.
This Ordinance approved and signed by me this 18t~' day of March, 2009.
~~~ ~ G-~
homas Galligan, o