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Alarm User Awareness Class

You may participate in an Alarm User Awareness Class in lieu of paying one prescribed fee per calendar year. Response could be suspended after the tenth (10th) false alarm, excluding Duress, Holdup and Panic Alarms. Alarm User Awareness class is free. Residential and commercial users may participate in the class once per year. Alarm User Awareness class is offered via mail, in a classroom setting and online. All attendees will receive a certificate to waive one false alarm fee past or future (applies to classroom setting or if no outstanding fines are on account). Advanced registration is required due to limited seating. Please call 913-971-8530 to reserve your seat or for the written version to be mailed to you. 

If you are interested in participating in the Online Alarm User Awareness Class please click here.

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Auto Dialer Devices

OMC 9.25.040 (D): It is unlawful to use automatic voice dialers (Automatic Voice Dialer means any electrical, electronic, mechanical, or other device capable of being programmed to send a prerecorded voice message, when activated, over a telephone line, radio or other communication system, to a law enforcement, public safety or emergency services agency requesting dispatch).

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What Is A False Alarm?

As per Olathe Municipal Code, 9.25.010 (n), False Alarm means an Alarm Dispatch Request to a law enforcement agency, when the responding law enforcement officer finds no evidence of a criminal offense or attempted criminal offense after having completed a timely investigation of the Alarm Site.

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False Alarm Fine Schedule

Any alarm user which has recorded more than one (1) false alarm within a calendar year shall be subject to the following fees:

False alarm counts reset to zero every January 1.

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Other Fine Information

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False Alarm Appeals

Appeals must be a written request for a review stating the reasons for the appeal within twenty business days after the date of notification to the Alarm Coordinator. The Alarm Coordinator may adjust the count of False Alarms based on:

• Evidence that a False Alarm was caused by an act of God
• Evidence that a False Alarm was caused by action of the telephone company
• Evidence that a False Alarm was caused by a power outage lasting longer than four (4) hours
• Evidence that the Alarm Dispatch Request was not a False Alarm
• In determining the number of False Alarms, multiple alarms occurring in any twenty four (24) hour period shall be counted as one False Alarm; to allow the Alarm User time to take corrective action unless the False Alarms are directly caused by the Alarm User.

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Alarm Company Information

• All alarm companies (monitoring, service, install) must register annually.  
• The Monitoring Company shall not make an Alarm Dispatch Request of a law enforcement agency in response to a burglar alarm signal, excluding Panic, Duress and Holdup signals, during the first seven (7) days following an Alarm System installation. The Alarm Administrator may grant an Alarm User's request for an exemption from this waiting period based upon a determination that special circumstances substantiate the need for the exemption.

A Monitoring Company shall:  

• Verify every alarm signal, except Duress or Holdup Alarm activation, before requesting law enforcement response to an alarm system signal
• Provide an Alarm User registration number when requesting law enforcement dispatch
• Communicate Cancelations to the Johnson County Sheriff's Department at (913) 971-7455
• Ensure that all alarm users of the alarm system(s) that are equipped with a Duress, Holdup or Panic Alarm are given adequate training as to the proper use of them
• Upon the effective date of this ordinance, monitoring companies must maintain for a period of at least one (1) year from the date of the alarm dispatch request, records relating to alarm dispatch requests. Records must include the name, address and telephone number of the alarm user, the alarm system zone(s) activated, the time of alarm dispatch request and evidence of an attempt to verify. The alarm coordinator may request copies of such records for individually named alarm users. If the request is made within sixty (60) days of an alarm dispatch request, the monitoring company shall furnish requested records within three (3) business days of receiving the request. If the records are requested between sixty (60) days to one (1) year after an alarm dispatch request, the monitoring company shall furnish the requested records within thirty (30) days of receiving the request.
• An alarm installation company and/or monitoring company that purchases alarm system accounts from another person shall notify the alarm coordinator of such purchase and provide details as may be reasonably requested by the alarm coordinator.

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False Alarm Prevention Tips

1.  Before activating your system . . .

• Keep all pets, balloons, fans, heaters, plants, curtains, seasonal decorations (i.e. holiday lights), etc. away from motion sensor areas.

• Know how to cancel the alarm if the system activates.

2.  Educate alarm system users regular and temporary.

• Educate users, key holders, or any person with legal access to your property; they must be thoroughly trained in how to operate your system, including knowledge of correct arming codes, pass codes, telephone numbers and procedures for canceling accidental alarm activations.

3.  Check with your alarm company for temporary arming codes and pass codes for person(s) other than the property owners. These codes can be added and deleted to control temporary access as needed.

1.  Have your security company check and service your system regularly . . . 

• Routine maintenance can help prevent many false alarms.

2.  Notify your security company if . . .

• You think your system is not working properly.
• You plan any remodeling, including replacing doors or windows, hanging drywall, sanding floors, installing attic flooring or basement ceiling, changing phone systems, installing intercoms, siding, ceiling fans or skylights, fumigating, installing wiring for cable or other electronics, installing anything near the system control panel or keypads.
• You hire domestic help, get a new pet, plan to sell your house, or are testing your system.

3.  You should review your call list with your alarm company at least once a year.

4.  If you disconnect all of your hardwired phone lines, install DSL, or move all your premises voice communication to an internet base, your security system may not be able to reliably communicate with the monitoring company-if at all!

5.  Contact the Alarm Coordinator if . . .

• You have a phone service or name change, if you have moved, or if situations change, such as a disabled person now residing at the residence, etc. 

6.  Your central monitoring station should not request a police dispatch for power outages, low battery signals or loss of telephone connections.

7.  Replace old police department direct-connect monitoring equipment with newer, high security monitoring technology. Dirty or wet phone lines, telephone repair technicians and service interruptions do not require police response!

8.  Upgrade old alarm systems to current equipment conforming to Security Industry Association (SIA) false alarm prevention standards, further reducing false alarms.

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Alarm Fast Facts

Did you know . . . ?   

• In 2009, Olathe had 3,085 dispatched alarm calls
• In 2010, Olathe had 3,212 dispatched alarm calls
• Alarm calls were the 5th most requested call for service (3,085) in 2009 and the 4th most requested call for service (3,179) in 2010 
• False alarms divert police from crime prevention efforts, disturb neighborhoods, delay police responses to real emergencies and waste taxpayer dollars.
• City Council passed the alarm ordinance on January 28, 2006 that requires alarm registration, fines for false alarms and an Alarm User Awareness class.
• Anyone who has a residential or business alarm system must register their system with the city. There is no fee to register your alarm system. An alarm registration must be submitted to the Alarm Coordinator within 5 days after the alarm system installation or alarm system takeover.
• Registrations are valid from January 1 to December 31 for residences and businesses.
• Alarm registrations for residents, businesses and alarm companies must be renewed annually per ordinance.
• Alarm registration applications can be picked up at City Hall, printed from the City's Web site or register online.
• You are allowed one free false alarm per year.
• You may participate in one Alarm User Awareness class per year to waive a past or present false alarm fine.
• Alarm User Awareness class is offered online, by mail and in a classroom setting to educate users on how to prevent false alarms.
• You may pay false alarm fines in person at City Hall, 100 E. Santa Fe St or by mail. Payments can be made in cash, check or money order.
• Please call (913) 971-8530 during regular business hours of 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.
• City of Olathe Resolution No. 09-1080 regarding false alarms
• City of Olathe Automatic Alarm System ordinance

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