TUCSON, AZ (Tucson News Now) -

AMERITECH WANTS YOU TO KNOW THAT JUST BECAUSE YOU SET YOUR ALARM OFF ACCIDENTLY THIS IS NOT CONSIDERED A FALSE ALARM. AS LONG AS YOU YOU PUSH IN YOUR CODE OR GIVE YOUR CODE WORD AND THE POLICE DO NOT COME TO YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS, AGAIN THIS IS NOT CONSIDERED A FALSE ALARM. THIS ONLY REFERS TO PEOPLE IN THE TUCSON POLICE CITY LIMITS NOT THE SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT.

http://www.tucsonnewsnow.com/story/17307633/tucsons-false-alarm-ordinance-now-in-effect

Tucson’s false alarm ordinance went into effect on April 1st.

City council approved the ordinance in a 5-2 vote, a few weeks ago.  The ordinance would require alarm owners to pay an annual $20 permit fee and get their alarms registered with the city’s police department.

Business and home owners can choose to opt out of paying this fee and forgo police response, but those who did would have to pay a $100 fine or attend a course after the first violation.

Those who did pay the fee would not have to pay the penalty for their first alarm call-out, and could get the second violation waived by attending a false alarm prevention class.  Fines would also be lower for those who paid the fee.

City officials said the ordinance would help generate $1 Million in revenue.  In these times of budget cuts, with less officers out on the streets, police said that would be very helpful.

Some disagreed, saying this was just an excuse to generate additional revenue for the city.

Councilman Steve Kozachik voted against the ordinance.

Kozachik worried that the ordinance would discourage home owners and business owners from installing alarms, and that would lead to increased burglaries and more crime.

A Tucson police press release stated that currently, on-line payment options were not available but payments could be made in person at any of the following locations:
•The Westside Police Service Center at 1310 West Miracle Mile; Impound Lobby (for payments) /Primary Alarm Office location

• City Hall at 255 West Alameda Street

• County/City Public Works at 201 North Stone (Development Services Center Building

• Eastside City Hall at 7575 East Speedway

• Patrick K. Hardesty Midtown Multi-Service Center at 1100 South Alvernon
• General Services Department Price Service Center at 4004 South Park Avenue #1

• Water Department at 310 West Alameda Street (520) 791-2622