Crime & Safety

Security System False Alarms Lead to Fines, Police Warn

False alarms from home security systems could land you up to $1,000 in fines.

While home security systems can help protect from intruders, they can also cost you if they produce a false alarm.

Summer storms can potentially cause power outages and could trigger alarm systems, to which Montgomery County Police then respond. Montgomery County Police are requested to respond to more than 45,000 false alarms each year, according to a MCP news release.

These false alarms—defined as when an alarm is reported, public safety agencies respond, and no evidence of criminal activity is found—could cost homeowners up to $1,000 per alarm.

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Every alarm user is allowed one “free” false alarm in a calendar year, Montgomery County Police reported in a news release. False alarm response fees are imposed for the second and each subsequent false alarm in a calendar year. The false alarm response fee for residential and commercial alarm users begins at $25 for the second false alarm. After that, fees will escalate to $1,000 per false alarm for residential alarm users and $4,000 per false alarm for commercial alarm users.

Home security systems that are properly designed, installed and maintained will not send out a false alarm when there are power surges or outages, according to the release.

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The prevent your alarm system from triggering during an outage, use these tips:

  • Repair loose-fitting doors and windows.
  • Ensure that all alarm contacts are firmly in place.
  • Use surge protectors/suppressors on both the alarm system and the phone line sending the alarm signal to the monitoring center.
  • Ensure that your alarm system is properly grounded. 
  • Ensure that the battery back-up protection is in good working order, is fully charged, and will hold that charge for a minimum of four hours.
  • Move pets into an area that does not have a motion sensor before arming the system.
  • Educate everyone who lives or works at the alarm site on the proper operation of the system.
  • Never give a house key to someone who has not been educated on the proper use of your alarm system.  Be sure to provide those individuals a personal pass code/password in the event they cause a false alarm.

 For more tips from the Montgomery County Police Department, visit its website.


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