BUENA PARK : Police Want End to False Alarms

Residents and businesses with malfunctioning security systems may soon have to pay for their false alarms under a proposed city ordinance.

A fee schedule given preliminary approval by the City Council last week would charge owners based on thenumber of false alarms received by police.

The first three would be free, but thereafter, fees of up to $100 would be assessed.

Chronic abusers--those responsible for seven or more false alarms within one year--would lose their operating permits. Owners could reapply for permits but would have to pay an additional $50. “The intent is to put in some firm controls,” Police Chief Richard M. Tefank said. “We want to let officers do their job” and not respond to unnecessary calls, he said.

During 1990, police received 2,982 alarm calls. The majority were from local businesses. According to police, only about 30 alarms involved actual emergencies. Twenty-two locations had more than 15 false alarm calls each, and 88 others had seven or more.

“Two officers must respond” to each false alarm call, Tefank said. “It is a half-hour of lost productivity.”

Tefank said the majority of false alarms occur at night.

If adopted, the ordinance is expected to generate more than $50,000 in fines. The council is expected to give final approval at its March 18 meeting.