A citizen of the City, Ms. Jacqueline Schick, has given me permission to re-print some very good advice she gave regarding residential alarm systems. Please take a moment and read if you are considering installing an alarm system. Thank you.
“As a homeowner with a monitored alarm system, I offer a couple of tips. I personally did not want one but my dearly beloved who was experienced with them in business and our homeowner's insurance company did. Speak with your homeowner's insurance agent - you may get a discount on your policy!
The first line of system effectiveness is, of course, signage outside. Let it be known that you have a system. These are discrete but visible signs and window stickers.
When installing the sensors, think about how you actually live in your house year round and discuss that with your installer. You want security, but do not want to feel as though the system is an unwelcome guest. For example, do you open some of your windows at night during the summer? You may be able to put two sensors on a window, one in the closed position and one in the partially open position (open the window to the desired position and then mark the sensor so that you line the window up). We have some little hidden windows that we forget we even have, look around and put a sensor on it.
Pets, dogs and cats (and sometimes forgetful human beings), do not necessarily mix well with motion sensors. Don't forget about your elevated rooms; ladders do exist and you would be surprised at how often they get left outside at other people's homes.
We have set our system to announce window and door openings. Learn a foreign language and set it in Spanish!
Ask for a key chain remote control. This makes coming and going easier.
These systems do have to be registered with the local police and there are fines for accidental alarms should the police respond to a call from your monitoring company.**
We pay $35.00 per month and they call us when the batteries on individual sensors are low! Our company also requires us to have a "land line," not a cell phone, as the number to call if the alarm goes off.”
** False Alarms **
False alarms will start costing the residents and business owners of the City of Takoma Park. Beginning January 1, 2008, no distinction will be made between the City of Takoma Park alarm users and any other alarm user in Montgomery County. The City of Takoma Park has adopted Chapter 3A, Alarms, of the Montgomery County Code. On July 1, the Takoma Park Police Department began utilizing the Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) 9-1-1 equipment, which means that they can now, where they were not capable before, retrieve data on alarm calls for service within the incorporated City of Takoma Park. The MCPD False Alarm Reduction Section (FARS) will implement a phased approach to enforcing the alarm law in Takoma Park. The first step will be registering all Takoma Park alarm users. The FARS expects to have all existing City of Takoma Park alarm users registered by September 30. Starting October 1, all alarm companies must provide the alarm user a registration number for each of their City of Takoma Park alarm users. Between October 1 and December 31, the FARS will provide ongoing education to the City of Takoma Park alarm users about their responsibilities under the alarm law. On January 1, 2008, full enforcement will begin with the imposition of false alarm response fees to alarm users with more than one (1) false alarm in a calendar year, and with the issuance of civil citations to alarm companies that violate the provisions of Chapter 3A, Alarms, of the Montgomery County Code with respect to City of Takoma Park alarm users.
All users will register through their alarm companies for a $30 fee, and then $10 every two years thereafter. The penalties/fines for false alarms are as follows:
- First false alarm in the calendar year will be free.
- 2nd false alarm = $25
- 3rd false alarm = $50
- 4th false alarm = $75
- 5th false alarm = $100
- 6th false alarm = $125
- these fees will continue in increased increments of $25 until the 15th false alarm, which will be a fine of $1,000.