05-25-1983 Council Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

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1. An ordinance that is uniform throughout the cities policed by the Sheriff's Office. 2. An ordinance that can be enforced, understood and administered with the least amount of difficulty. 3. An ordinance that will reduce the volume of false alarms through some type of penalty. 4. An ordinance that is not so restrictive or expensive for the user as to discourage the use of alarms. In March 1983, the city of Falcon Heights passed an alarm ordinance which I am enclosing. This ordinance is one that I feel we could live with. The only change I would propose is a fifty dollar penalty for the third false alarm in place of the twenty five dollar one used in Falcon Heights. If this ordinance is not acceptable, my next recommendation is that a committee be formed with representatives from the cities of Arden Hills, Gem Lake, Little Canada, North Oaks, Shoreview and Vadnais Heights to develope an ordinance. Also, representatives of alarm companies could be included. From the position of the Sheriff's Office, uniformity is very important. To summarize, the false alarms are seriously affecting our operations. It disrupts our radar efforts, it creates problems with the deployment of our squads assigned patrol beats. The problem will continue to grow as estimates from the Cable TV people indicate as many as 50 -70 percent of the subscribers may install residential alarms. At some point in the near future, additional manpower may be needed if the present rate of false alarms continues. Very truly, Charles L. Zacharias, Ramsey County Sheriff by: Fred R. Spencer, Patrol Division Commander page -38-