NEWS RELEASE
BARRIE POLICE SERVICE
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As a result of the escalating number of false alarms responded to by Barrie Police Service, a False Alarm Policy was introduced in 2010. Responding to false alarms delay officers from more emergent community needs, increases the concern for officer safety and becomes costly. The policy places the onus on the alarm owner to ensure alarm systems are operated efficiently and provides a Cost Recovery Fee.
What is a False Alarm?
A false alarm is an alarm call where police have attended, and deemed the alarm to be false and was caused by anything other than a criminal offence, medical or fire emergency. The most common causes of false alarms include user error, faulty equipment and household pets.
What is a Cancelled Alarm?
A cancelled alarm is any cancelled request for service for an activated alarm, and a police response has been initiated.
Cost Recovery Fee – Effective January 1, 2017
The Barrie Police Service is committed to providing a safe and secure community and strives to reduce the number of false alarms that generate unnecessary deployment of police resources. The Cost Recovery Fee is to assist with increased demands for unnecessary police resources when responding to residential and commercial security alarms. The intention is to reduce false alarm dispatches to front line officers and pass the cost onto the consumer who utilizes the service rather than taxpayers in general.
Fees
False Alarm
$180.00 will be charged for every dispatched alarm call that is deemed to be false by the attending officer. An invoice will be issued to the alarm subscriber and is to be paid in full within 30 days. Outstanding fees will be subject to finance charges and may be added to the Property Tax Roll or assigned to a Collection Agency.
Cancelled Alarm
$120.00 will be charged for every dispatched alarm that is cancelled prior to an officer’s arrival at the premise. An invoice will be issued to the alarm subscriber and is to be paid in full within 30 days. Outstanding fees will be subject to finance charges and may be added to the Property Tax Roll or forwarded to a Collection Agency.
First False Alarms and/or First Cancelled Alarms for residential property owners will be forgiven and a letter cautioning future false alarms will be sent.
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