ALARM REGISTRATION
After January 1, 2000, no person shall operate or use an alarm system on any premise within the City of Redmond, without registration. The Police Department will not respond to an alarm system that is not registered. The ordinance exempts certain alarm activations from this policy (robbery, panic, medical, fire, and hold-up alarms). Registration fee and annual renewal fee is $10.00, annual renewal is also $10.00.

WHY DO I NEED TO RENEW MY ALARM EACH YEAR?
To ensure:

• The business and/or homeowner is still located at that address
• The alarm company and emergency contact information is current
• The phone numbers and contact information for the owner are up to date

NOTE:
This applies ONLY if your business/residence is within Redmond city limits. Your alarm monitoring company is responsible for notifying new clients within Redmond city limits of this ordinance.

FORMS:
You can download the Alarm Registration Application/Renewal Application, (Adobe Acrobat document. Obtain free Acrobat reader to view) The information provided on this form will then be available to dispatchers to expedite appropriate police response.

WHAT IS A FALSE ALARM?
Any alarm caused by human error or equipment problems resulting in police response, with no evidence of an actual crime having been committed. This does not include alarms caused by violent actions of nature or other extraordinary circumstances not reasonably subject to control by the alarm user or alarm business.

DID YOU KNOW?

• In 2004, 99.9% of all alarm calls were false.
• This program resulted in a 59% reduction in false alarm calls in the first year.  2004 compared to 1999 showed a 59% decrease in alarm calls. 
• RPD officers responded to 749 false alarms in 2004.

WHAT FALSE ALARMS DO:

• Take police away from community policing activities and other real emergencies.
• Lead neighbors to ignore your alarm when it goes off. Your system becomes less reliable and less credible.
• Will cost you fines and will suspend police response after the 6th alarm.
• False alarms create a potential danger to citizens and officers responding to the call.

IF A FALSE ALARM OCCURS:

• If you are not at home, your alarm company must call you or an emergency contact BEFORE they call 9-1-1 (EXCEPT if it is a panic/duress or hold up alarm, then they should call 9-1-1 immediately).
• If you are at home, CANCEL the call, you will not be charged UNLESS the officer arrives to the alarm location. Be sure to turn off (disarm) your alarm. Keep your verification, cancellation instructions and monitoring company phone numbers hidden, but accessible.
• Your alarm company should have two emergency contact numbers that are current.
• If your alarm is not monitored, call 9-1-1 immediately to report your false alarm.

APPEALS:
The alarm user may appeal the validity of a false alarm in writing within fifteen (15) days of the notice of suspension. The City of Redmond Hearing Examiner will hear all appeals.

POLICE RESPONSE / FINES:
During a 12-month period of time, commencing with the first false alarm, the following police response and fine structure will apply:

FIRST RESPONSE:
Officer may leave a notice of alarm activation, and you will receive a notification letter in the mail. No fine will be imposed.

SECOND RESPONSE:
Officer may leave a notice of alarm activation, and you will receive a notification letter in the mail. A $25.00 fee will be charged.

THIRD RESPONSE:
Officer may leave a notice of alarm activation. A letter will be sent to the alarm monitoring company and the alarm user to apprise them of the potential for service suspension. A Corrective Action Report will be forwarded to the alarm monitoring company to be returned within 10 days to the police department describing what action was taken to ensure the alarm system is operating properly. Failure to return the report will result in the police department not responding to any additional alarms. A $50.00 fee will be charged.

FOURTH RESPONSE:
Officer may leave notice of alarm activation, and you will receive a notification letter in the mail. A $75.00 fee will be charged.

FIFTH RESPONSE:
Officer may leave a notice of alarm activation. A written notification will be sent to the alarm monitoring company and the alarm user informing them of the pending service suspension if there is one more false alarm during the twelve month period. A $100.00 fee will be charged.

SIXTH RESPONSE:
Written notification will be made to the alarm monitoring company and the alarm user that the POLICE DEPARTMENT WILL NO LONGER RESPOND TO THEIR PROPERTY TYPE ALARMS FOR A PERIOD OF 90 DAYS.

SUSPENSION:
Other incidents that will suspend police response are:

• Non-payment of false alarm fines,
• Non-payment of annual renewal fee,
• Failure to register your alarm system will result in non-response to property-type alarms by police

TO PREVENT FALSE ALARMS

• Secure all doors and windows before arming your system.
• Be ready BEFORE arming your system. If you set the alarm and remember something, turn the alarm off, get what you forgot, and then re-arm the system.
• Know your system and share that knowledge with those who need to know. If you give them the key to your property, then give them the code and instructions to operate the system.
• Make sure everyone in your home or business has manually operated the alarm system, knows any codes necessary, and understands what to do if any should accidentally activate.
• Keep your system maintained. Change batteries once a year and keep sensors dust-free.
• Make sure that rooms with motion sensors are free of pets, wind, party decorations, or anything else that can activate them by accident.
• Test your alarm system at least once a month to confirm that it is in correct working order. If you have any doubts call your alarm company immediately for service. When testing your alarm do not forget to first notify the alarm monitoring company.

WHAT CAN I DO TO ASSIST THE POLICE?

• Make sure your house numbers are easily visible from the street, day & night. If you have an address that is difficult to find, be sure to give specific driving directions to your alarm monitoring company.
• Be sure your alarm company decal is located near the front door and is easily visible. For non-monitored systems be sure to post the phone number of a person who has the authority to turn off the alarm.
• Have current list of three contacts on file with the police department.

CONTACT:
Shawn Fitzpatrick
Support Services Supervisor
Redmond Police Department
P.O. Box 97010
Redmond, WA 98073-9710
sfitzpatrick@redmond.gov
425-556-2694

Alarm Registration Application