Mayor Gist Proposes False Alarm Ordinance for Jackson
JACKSON, Tenn. – Officials with the City of Jackson hope to curb wasted dollars and man hours by instituting a “False Alarm Ordinance.” The ordinance, which would have to be approved by the City Council, is aimed at significantly reducing the number of false alarms activated by home and business security systems. It would require registration of home and business alarm systems and impose fines for responses to the third and subsequent false alarms. According to a news release, the Jackson Police Department responded to 8,275 alarm calls to homes and businesses in 2011. More than 99 percent (8,235) were false alarms. Each JPD response to a false alarm costs taxpayers approximately $50 in manpower and fuel and keeps two officers occupied at the premises an average of 20 minutes. Officials add that the Jackson Fire Department expended 5,485 man hours responding to 259 false alarms in 2011. Each false fire alarm call requires four fire trucks and 16 fire personnel, averages 22 minutes and costs taxpayers in excess of $200. The proposed “False Alarm Ordinance” would require alarm users to make a determined effort to learn to use their alarms more carefully and to repair defective systems in their homes and businesses. “The fact that we respond to over 10,000 false alarms a year shows a need to address the situation,” Mayor Gist said. “That‘s not a productive way of using our limited resources. Hopefully, this ordinance will help us eliminate that waste of man power and money and help us be more efficient.” Other cities have seen a significant reduction in false alarms after implementing a similar ordinance, city officials said. Examples giben were Union City, TN (55% reduction), Johnson City, TN (50%), Marietta, GA (70%) and Olympia, WA (90%). We‘ll have more details on the proposal this evening on 7 Eyewitness News.
