Burglar alarm fuss, part II
Remember all the fun surrounding false burglar alarms a few years ago? It seems that's in store for false fire alarm calls as well. We editorialized about it today in "Fire alarms redux."
The Los Angeles Fire Department wastes $9 million a year answering 30,000 bogus calls. Why not compel those responsible for this waste to pick up the cost?The problem comes in the execution. Just ask the Los Angeles Police Department.
Four years ago, the city wrestled with the same problem as it pertains to false burglar alarms. Then, as now, authorities complained that too many false alarms were draining resources away from real emergencies. Then as now, they proposed steep fines to help mitigate the problem.
And then as now, the idea made sense - in theory.
After a long, bitter and drawn-out battle among city leaders, homeowners and private security firms, the city agreed to allow homeowners and businesses two false alarms - after which alarms from that address would not be answered without human confirmation that an actual break-in was taking place.
This is an easy one. If the alarm companies want to hook in the police and fire departments, they should agree to pay up for false alarms. They just add it to the bill of the false alarmer or eat it themselves if is their fault.
See - I told you it was easy.