False Alarm Ordinance Information
Jul 1, 2008
The City of Charleston and the Charleston Police Department would like to remind the Charleston community that the city’s false alarm ordinance became effective September 1, 2008.The purpose of the ordinance is to reduce the number of false alarms and to maximize police resources available to the public.
Between May 2007 and March 2008, Charleston Police officers responded to 13,080 false alarms and only 49 real alarms. In order to reduce the number of false alarms, we are asking residents and business owners to fully educate their children, caregivers, cleaning personnel, employees and real estate agents on how to work the alarm system and provide them with the proper pass codes. They should also regularly replace back-up batteries to reduce false alarms during power surges or outages.
The ordinance allows for three false alarms per calendar year. Beginning with the fourth false alarm, the user shall be subject to a fine.
The Charleston Police Department recognizes the deterrent effect of a properly maintained and operated alarm system and continues to encourage the use of such systems. With your assistance, we can reduce false alarms and maximize our effectiveness by having resources available to respond to those situations actually requiring immediate law enforcement attention.
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