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October 30, 2016 - 11:30 AM
KAMLOOPS - With 95 per cent of security alarms in Kamloops classified by the police as false alarms, a report recommends updates to the city’s alarm bylaw, including increased fines for false alarms.
In a report headed to a council workshop next week, city administration is suggesting updates to the Security Alarm Bylaw, the first in nearly 20 years.
With more than 19 out of 20 alarms being false and more than 1,400 calls a year, police spend an estimated 800 hours responding to unnecessary calls. The number of false alarms is partly due to the increased use of security systems in homes and businesses.
Currently, depending on the type of call and number of times a business or residence has a false alarm, the city’s response can be a warning or a fine up to $300.
Administration has put forward two potential fee structures for council to discuss Nov. 1. Both have increasing fines, up to $1,000 and can lead to the police not responding to a call if more than four false alarms are called inside of 365 days.
Council will discuss the options at the Nov. 1 workshop.
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