Arlington Police Announce New Alarm Response Policy

Effective today, April 1, 2003, the Arlington Police Department will implement an administrative policy change regarding police response to remotely-monitored residential and commercial burglar alarms.

The change will not affect human-activated alarms such as panic alarms and hold-up alarms, nor will it apply to situations where a person at the scene calls police to report an alarm sounding. However, beginning July 1, 2003 an off-site alarm company reporting an alarm call must provide a valid alarm permit number for the location before police response will be initiated.

The policy change is the result of the Police Department’s year-long search for a solution to the increasing problem of false alarm calls. Residential and commercial alarm calls comprise the largest category of dispatched calls that the Department receives and responds to. Approximately 32,000 false alarms are reported to the Arlington Police Department yearly by alarm monitoring companies, resulting in nearly 87 false alarm calls a day, at a cost of about $116 per call and $3.7 million in 2001. More than 99 percent of all alarm calls are false.

Police Chief Theron Bowman said the huge drain on police resources makes it difficult for the Police Department to strike the proper balance between protecting life and property.

"We began looking at this problem in an effort to provide better service to the community," Chief Bowman said. "Sending officers to where there is no crime does not enhance anyone’s safety. We are fully committed to providing the highest level of police service in order to preserve public safety."

The Police Department has been working with police dispatchers and alarm companies to provide a seamless transition to the "No Permit, No Response" policy change. The change is expected to result in a workload reduction of about 20 percent the first year. Officers will be able to redirect their time and resources to reducing speeding and red light violations while enhancing crime prevention and other proactive community policing activities, Chief Bowman said.

"The purpose of an alarm is to act as a deterrent – to scare criminals away or minimize the time they can spend in your home or business," Chief Bowman said. "It is also helpful in alerting your neighbors so that they can give police a license plate or suspect description."

Arlington City ordinance was changed in 2000 to require that all alarm users purchase a valid permit. People age 65 and over are exempt from the fee, but must have a valid permit.

Permit holders are being notified through their water bill. Additional instructions and notices are available on the Police Department’s website at www.arlingtonpd.org, the City of Arlington’s website at www.ci.arlington.tx.us, or by calling (817) 459-6472.

• Every residence and business with an alarm that is intended to summon police (regardless of whether the alarm is monitored) is required to have a permit.
• It is a violation of Arlington City Ordinance to operate an alarm without a valid permit. Violations are punishable by a fine up to $500.
• On April 1, 2003, the Arlington Police Department implemented an administrative policy change regarding police response to remotely-monitored residential and commercial burglar alarms.
• Effective July 1, 2003, you must have a valid permit in order to receive a police response.
• It is the alarm holder’s responsibility to contact the alarm company and provide them with the permit number.
• Your alarm company must provide police call takers with your permit number.
• People age 65 years and over are required to have a permit, but exempt from permit fees.
• Police will respond to all human-activated alarms, such as panic alarms and hold-up alarms. However, locations without a permit will receive a citation.

• Download forms from the Arlington Police Department’s website at www.arlingtonpd.org or the City’s website at www.ci.arlington.tx.us.

• In person:

• Request an application by calling the Police Department Alarm Office at 817-459-6472.
• Pick up an application at the Police Department at 620 W. Division St. (corner of Division and Cooper streets) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Applications received during normal business weekday hours of 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. will be processed and a permit number will be given at that time. Mailed applications will be processed and the alarm permit, including the permit number, will be returned by mail.

• By email:

• Email alarmoffice@ci.arlington.tx.us and request an application. Complete the application that is sent to you and mail it to the alarm office. The alarm office will process your application and will return the permit to you by mail.

Contact your alarm company and provide them with your permit number.

1. Obtain your permit number by:

a) Calling the Alarm Office at 817-459-6472, or

b) Emailing the Alarm Office at alarmoffice@ci.arlington.tx.us, or

c) Visiting the Alarm Office at the Police Department, 620 W. Division St. from
8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

2. Contact your alarm company and provide them with your permit number.

Any location with a working burglar alarm system that is intended to summon the police, including, but not limited to: houses, townhomes, condos, apartments, businesses, stores, churches, warehouses, storage buildings, offices.

The permit is required before the system becomes operational.

Yes.

Arlington police will only respond to alarm calls at addresses with a valid current alarm permit.

No. A separate permit is required for each alarm site and each alarm unit. Offices with one address that occupy more than one suite are required to have a permit for each suite.

No. Each apartment resident with an alarm is responsible for their own permit. The apartment management is responsible for all non-residential areas of the apartment complex, such as offices, storage facilities, clubhouses, weight rooms, etc.

Apartment management must have a permit for all non-residential areas of the apartment complex, such as offices, storage facilities, clubhouses, weight rooms, etc.

No.

See related press release above.