False alarm means the accidental or intentional activation of any alarm system through mechanical failure, accidental tripping, misuse, or intentional mischief by any person, when there has been no fire or medical emergency or robbery or burglary in progress on the premises where the alarm system is activated. Upon failure of the police department or fire department to find any evidence of intrusion, fire, or other need or cause for activating an alarm system, a conclusive presumption of false alarm will be made. When an alarm system activation is determined to be a false alarm, as defined by this chapter, the owner of the alarm system must pay a false alarm prevention fee to the city within the time specified in a notice from the city to the owner.
Alarm system means a fire alarm, a robbery alarm, a burglary alarm, or a medical alarm.
Fines Explained
| Police Alarms | 1st False Alarm in Permit Year | 2nd False Alarm in Permit Year | 3rd False Alarm in Permit Year | 4th False Alarm in Permit Year | 5th False Alarm in Permit Year | 6th-14th False Alarm in Permit Year | 15th+ False Alarm in Permit Year |
| Permitted Alarm | No Charge | $25.00* | $50.00 | $100.00 | $150.00 | $200.00 each | $500.00 each |
| Non-Permitted Alarm | No Charge | $50.00 | $100.00 | $200.00 | $300.00 | $400.00 each | $1000.00 each |
*This fee may be reduced upon completion of Alarm School
Pricing effective November 16, 2016. A 10% penalty and 7% annual interest will be added to false alarm fees for all payments received 30 days after the due date.
Did you know? False security alarms are very costly and prevent police officers from responding to actual emergencies. A false alarm is any alarm signal which causes a police department response when an emergency does not exist. The City of Escondido requires residences and commercial businesses with alarm systems to obtain and to maintain an annual alarm registration permit and reimburse the City for excessive false security alarms. The City allows up to one false alarm within a permit year, based on anniversary date. False alarm fines begin with the second response.
APPEALING A FALSE ALARM RESPONSE CHARGE
*Submit a written request/statement as to why you feel the charge and/or occurrence should be waived or removed from your account, along with any supporting documentation (police reports, alarm company documentation, etc)
*Submit via email using the Contact Us page.
*Be sure to include Permit License #, alarm location address, and incident date(s) in question.
*Submit within fifteen (15) calendar days of the notice imposing the charge.