False Alarm Prevention

Any person who has keys to your property MUST be able to operate the alarm.

Contractors, house cleaners, employees, friends, and others who may enter your property must have your code to operate your system and they must be practiced in its use.

Simply telling someone how to operate the system is not sufficient. Make sure everyone who opens your premises has actually armed and disarmed your system successfully in a practice session.

Close and Lock ALL perimeter doors and windows.

Always be sure that doors and windows are secured such that they cannot blow open in the wind, even if a particular opening is not directly connected to the system.

For instance, a window that blows open can admit birds, trash or wind which can disturb motion sensors, even if that window is not directly connected to the system.

Every windy day police respond to alarm signals that are caused by nothing more than a door blown open in the wind.

Be sure electric power to your system is uninterrupted when closing.

Many commercial establishments turn off circuit breakers at the end of the day. Be sure that this procedure does not shut off the power to your alarm system.

Modern security systems are designed with backup power supplies, but these batteries will not hold up the system during an entire closed period. Eventually, the batteries will die and signal an alarm with the last of its power.

Never arm the system when the power to it is interrupted.

If you make changes in your premises, call your alarm company for an inspection.

Changes in the interior of your premises can affect your security system, making it more vulnerable to false alarms. Worse still, changes can often impair detection devices which may allow for an intrusion to occur undetected. Avoid these problems by working with your alarm service provider to make needed changes before a false alarm (or an intrusion) can occur.

Keep animals and insects under control.

Pets and other domestic animals can often cause problems if they wander into areas covered by motion detectors, or if they knock things over within the range of glass-break sensors. Systems can be designed to accommodate your pets. If they need to be confined to a specific area be sure they can't wander into areas they shouldn't be in.

Rodents can move within a motion detector's pattern, or eat alarm wire insulation. Consult a pest control agency if you have this problem.

Birds can be a problem in commercial establishments. If a bird flies in your premises during the day, be sure it's gone when you close up for the night. If a pigeon flies into the pattern of a motion detector when the system is armed, it will cause a false alarm.

Roaches and other insect infestations can cause problems as well. Bugs can occupy the insides of alarm equipment, causing a false alarm. A roach inside an infrared motion detector can appear like a freight train as it crawls by, and will cause an alarm.

Today's security system is a sophisticated, balanced device. Using inferior quality detectors, contacts and other equipment especially without trained installation technique is asking for trouble. Your dealer is knowledgeable about the products and systems available and selects the devices he/she feels will provide you with continuing reliable service.

City of Riverside
Security Alarm Ordinance

If you have a Security Alarm System.....

 
• YOU MUST HAVE AN ALARM PERMIT TO LEGALLY OPERATE AN ALARM WITHIN THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE..
  
• YOUR PERMIT MUST BE ON FILE WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. PERMITS CAN BE OBTAINED AT THE RIVERSIDE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
  
• IF YOUR ALARM SYSTEM IS MONITORED BY A SERVICE, THE MONITORING COMPANY MUST GIVE US YOUR PERMIT NUMBER WHEN REQUESTING POLICE RESPONSE.
  
• IF YOU HAVE EXCESSIVE FALSE ALARMS, YOU WILL BE CHARGED FOR ALARMS BY THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE.

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  Summary of Ordinance

  DEFINITIONFalse alarm means the activation of an alarm resulting from human error, a system malfunction, improper installation of the system, or design efficiencies necessitating response by the police when an emergency does not exist.
  PERMITSNo person shall install or cause to be installed, use, or maintain an alarm system on premises owned, rented or leased within the city without first having obtained an alarm user's permit from the Police Department. A one time permit fee shall be paid as set forth by resolution of the City Council.

  If requested by the Police Department, the person(s) listed shall be required to be present at the alarm location within forty-five (45) minutes after being advised that the Police Department has received an alarm activation.

  Alarm permits shall not be transferable. A new alarm user's permit shall be issued when a business/residence changes its name, ownership or moves.

  FALSE ALARMS The Police Chief may declare an alarm system at a specific location to be a nuisance if such alarm system actuates excessive false alarms. The City Council hereby finds and determines that four (4) false burglary alarms within three hundred sixty-five (365) days or three (3) false robbery alarms within three hundred sixty-five (365) days is excessive and thereby constitutes a public nuisance.

  A false burglary alarm response fee shall be paid after three (3) false burglary alarms have been received from any one source within three hundred sixty-five (365) days. A false robbery response fee shall be paid after (2) false robbery alarms have been received from any one source within three hundred sixty-five (365) days. A higher false alarm fee may be established for each additional false alarm during any consecutive three hundred sixty-five (365) day period. The fee shall have been established by resolution of the City Council. All fees must be paid within (30) days from the date the invoice was rendered.

  Alarm Ordinance Fees

ALARM USER PERMITS
One Time Alarm Permit	$ 30.00
Reissued Alarm User’s Permit after revocation	$200.00
FALSE BURGLARY ALARMS Within a 365-day period [1 year]
First, second, and third false burglary alarms	No Charge
Nuisance Alarms
Fourth and fifth false burglary alarm (each)	$ 75.00
Sixth, seventh and eighth false burglary alarm (each)	$150.00
Each false burglary alarm response above eight	$225.00
FALSE ROBBERY ALARMS Within a 365-day period [1 year]
First and second false robbery alarms	No Charge
Nuisance Alarms
Third false robbery alarm	$150.00
Fourth false robbery alarm	$225.00
Each subsequent false robbery alarm	$300.00

Fees are subject to change.

To obtain an alarm permit, or for more information, please call (951) 826-5600.

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Effective 3/18/97, fees for false alarm responses were revised per City of Riverside Council Resolution No. 19058.

Non-emergency crime reports (such as burglary, theft, vandalism, etc.) can be reported to the Riverside Police Department Telephone Report Line. The report line is open Monday through Friday, from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and closed on Major Holidays (New Year's Day, July 4th, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas). (951) 826-5314