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City may fine for false alarms |
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Wednesday, 26 March 2008 |
By TJ HEMLINGER
Staff writer
Columbia City is considering an ordinance that would level fines on businesses and residences for false police or fire alarms.
The ordinance would levy a $25 fine per occurrence.
Police chief Mike Petersen said his office received 394 false alarms in 2007, and fire chief Tom LaRue said there were approximately 40 false fire alarms.
“Our goal is to reduce this and work with businesses,” Petersen said. “Communities that have switched to a fee/fine system have experienced a reduction of 40 percent to 50 percent in false alarms.”
Petersen said most of the responses to alarms are made with lights and sirens, increasing the danger to drivers and pedestrians. He said there has been one accident on the way to an alarm, and the officer involved was an experienced driver.
“Business (owners) have no complaint,” Petersen said.
LaRue told the council, “It’s not something I want to do, but it’s something I have to do. Some places install these (alarms) and don’t take care of them.”
Terry Wherry, head of the city’s communications department, said answering false alarms was “labor intensive.”
Petersen said, “One false alarm is one too many.”
LaRue added, “It’s more to get their attention.”
The ordinance passed on first reading and must be voted on again. City department heads and the council are going to meet again to discuss the problem.
In other business Tuesday night, Petersen reported that the use of a sensor sign that reads a motorist’s speed and records the information is being used around town.
One type of use is “spector patrolling,” where the speed is not displayed to the motorist but is simply recorded. One driver was clocked at 55 mph on Hanna Street, and another was caught doing more than 60 in the 400 block of Main Street.
The police are using the data to determine where to concentrate their patrols.
Park department head Mark Green reported that baseball and softball registration have begun and will continue from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the department headquarters. They also will be registering players from 7-11 a.m. the next two Saturdays.
The council also voted to buy back a maximum of two weeks of vacation from employees who have accumulated the time.
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 27 March 2008 )
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