City of Greenville, NC

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For ordinance effective 5/1/2010

False Alarm Reduction Unit

In the past, five years, there have been more than 30,000 false alarms in the City. Last year alone, Greenville Police responded to 4,938 false alarms, which comprises approximately 8% of the total number of calls to the Police and more than 3,292 manpower hours. Those are hours that could have been spent patrolling neighborhoods or serving the public in other ways. The City Council, in an effort to reduce the number of false alarms, passed an ordinance requiring anyone with an alarm within the city limits (businesses and residences) to have a permit. The new law also spells out fines for false alarms and stiff penalties for those who do not have a permit.

Alarm Ordinance Highlights

Required registration of all burglar alarm systems that summon the Greenville Police Department through a monitoring service. Initial registration fee is $15. Annual registration renewal fee is $5. Failure to register will result in a $200 fine for your first false alarm. False alarm fines begin on the second (3rd) false alarm for registered systems. A permit is valid for 12 months from the date of issuance.

Schedule of Fines (Updated As of November 1, 2008):

		1st false alarm:	Fine is waived
		2nd false alarm:	$25, but fine is waived if the alarm system is already permitted.
		3rd and 4th false alarms:	$25 each
		5th and 6th false alarms:	$50 each
		7th and above false alarms:	$100 each

In addition to the foregoing fines, an additional civil penalty for false alarms from a non-permitted alarm system is $200. The additional civil penalty will be waived if the alarm system is permitted within forty five days of the false alarm. The counting of false alarms starts over with each permit renewal.

About the False Alarm Reduction Unit

The primary goal of the False Alarm Reduction Unit is to reduce the number of false alarms that the Greenville Police Department responds to. This allows Police Officers to concentrate on other areas of crime prevention and law enforcement. The False Alarm Reduction Unit maintains a database of alarm permits, keeps track of false alarms and false alarm fines, educates employees and citizens, and handles false alarm appeals.

For more information, contact the False Alarm Reduction Unit at (252) 329-4897.

Alarm Permit Application

Print An Alarm Permit Application (.pdf)
Apply Online For a Permit

Above are links to the permit application form. The printable application must be mailed to False Alarm Reduction Unit, Greenville Police Department, P.O. Box 7207, Greenville, North Carolina 27835-7207. A non-refundable registration fee of $15.00 is required along with the application. The online application, once submitted, will generate a $15 invoice which will be mailed to the mailing address that you list on your application. Permit renewal fee will be $5.00 annually.

All alarm systems that summon the Greenville Police Department must be registered with the City of Greenville. A permit is valid for 12 months from the date of issuance. Use the above links to apply for a permit. An alarm permit will be issued to the address you specified. It is non-transferable which means that you cannot transfer the permit to another address nor can the permit be transferred to a new alarm user who takes over occupation of the residence or business.

Paying Fines

If you have received an invoice from the Greenville False Alarm Reduction Unit and wish to pay the balance, please mail your invoice along with a check or money order made payable to the Greenville False Alarm Reduction Unit to the following address:

Greenville False Alarm Reduction Unit
Greenville Police Department
PO Box 7207
Greenville, NC 27835-7207

Reducing False Alarms

Responding to false alarms is costly to citizens, to the City, and to the Police Department. Listed below are some tips that can help prevent false alarms and possibly save you money in the form of false alarm fines.

If your alarm is accidentally activated (false alarm activation), do not panic, do not call 911, but instead call your alarm monitoring company immediately. Give them your pass code and/or password and ask that they not dispatch the Police to your address.

		Make sure all alarm users and key holders at your address are trained to use the system.
		You can arrange to have your alarm monitoring station call you or another designated person first instead of the Police when your alarm is activated.
		If you expect workers, real estate agents, delivery personnel, etc. do not set your alarm. If you must set your alarm, meet the people at your site to deactivate the alarm. Remember that you are responsible for their actions. You can also arrange with your alarm company to have separate codes for them.
		If your system sends a silent panic/duress signal when an incorrect code is entered, understand that your alarm company may not call you to verify the alarm. You should contact your alarm company if the alarm is false and have them to cancel the Police.
		Be sure that doors and windows are tight fitting. Adjust hinges and strike plates on doors, so they move no more than ¼ inches when pulled or pushed on.
		Have an arming delay of at least 45 seconds on all doors.
		Do not leave doors and windows open or unlocked while you are away. Be sure all doors and windows are properly closed and locked prior to arming the alarm system.
		Do not leave anything that will move (pets, balloons, drapes, fans, etc…) in a room that is protected with a motion detector.
		Have the sensitivity settings on glass-break sensors adjusted so that sounds, such as thunder and outside construction, do not activate them.
		You can arrange with your alarm company not to dispatch the Police for interior motion sensor activations without having other sensors activated (i.e. door activation with motion sensor activation).
		If storms or brief power outages of 4 hours or less activate your alarm system, your system needs to be checked by a professional. These may be caused from dead/low batteries. Alarms during brief power outages cannot be waived. Have your alarm system checked and tested regularly.
		Call your alarm company after each false alarm to determine the cause of the false alarm. You may continue to have false alarms until the problem is repaired or adjusted.
		If a fence encloses your permitted location, the Police will need someone to respond so they could properly check the premises. Please ensure that your call list is up to date with the Greenville False Alarm Reduction Unit and your alarm company.

Appeal Guidelines

The City of Greenville False Alarm Ordinance, Section 12-1-9, defines a “false alarm” as the activation of an alarm system for any reason other than a robbery or unauthorized entry, and a subsequent response by the Greenville Police Department to that alarm site. Activation of an alarm through mechanical or electronic failure, malfunction, improper installation, or the result of negligence of the alarm user, his employees or agents will be deemed a false alarm unless law enforcement response was cancelled by the alarm user or his agent before the Police arrive at the alarm location. An alarm is false within the meaning of this article when, upon inspection by the Greenville Police Department, evidence indicates that no unauthorized entry, robbery, or other such crime was committed or attempted in or on the premises which would have activated a properly functioning alarm system.

Appeals will not be granted for false alarms that are the result of:

1.	Faulty, defective, or malfunctioning equipment
2.	Improper installation or maintenance
3.	Improper monitoring by the alarm company
4.	Mistakes made by contractors, maids, realtors, guests, workers, etc…
5.	Items which cause motion detectors to activate (balloons, curtains, animals, etc.)
6.	Activations due to loud noises
7.	Loose fitting doors and windows
8.	Pets, rodents, or any other animal or insect

This list is intended as a guide to assist you in deciding whether to appeal a false alarm or contact your alarm company. This list is not intended to cover every situation for which an appeal may be denied.

You may file an electronic appeal with the Greenville False Alarm Reduction Unit by submitting an email to alarms@greenvillenc.gov. You may also mail your written appeal to: Greenville False Alarm Reduction Unit, Greenville Police Department, P.O. Box 7207, Greenville, NC 27835-7207. Be sure to include your name, the alarm location, date of the false alarm, your permit number, reasons for the appeal, and any supporting evidence. You must file your appeal within 20 days after the date of notification of the assessment of civil penalties or other enforcement decision (suspension or revocation).

FAQs

Who needs an alarm permit?

Anyone possessing a burglar alarm system, device, or assembly of equipment designed to signal the occurrence of an illegal or unauthorized entry or other activity requiring immediate attention and to which the Greenville Police Department is expected to respond. This does not include alarms installed in motor vehicles, fire alarms, or alarms designed to elicit a medical response.

How do I obtain a permit?

You may have been given an application by your alarm company, but you may also download a copy from this website. Applications may also be picked up from the Greenville Police Department at 500 S Greene St., Greenville, NC 27835-7207

What do I do with the permit once I receive one?

You will not receive an actual physical permit. You will receive a letter notifying you of your permit number. The alarm permit number is specific to you at that address.

I lost my permit number, how can I get another one?

You do not need another permit number unless you have changed addresses. We will provide you with your specific permit number if you contact us by phone or in writing with your request.

I received an alarm notification sticker on my door/window, what does this mean?

That false alarm notification sticker was left as a courtesy informing you of a false alarm at your address. A letter will be mailed to you stating the nature of the response by the police officer. An invoice will be mailed to you if you are being charged a fine for the false alarm. You may elect to contact your alarm company to determine what happened and if a problem exists with your alarm system.

I received a false alarm notification in the mail, but the officer didn't leave a sticker. How can I be sure they arrived?

The false alarm notification sticker is a courtesy to you. The letter is the official notification that your alarm was activated and the police arrived at your address.

Where does the money go that is collected from false alarm fines?

The money collected from false alarm fines goes to the City of Greenville and pays for the cost of the program.

Can I appeal a false alarm?

You may appeal any false alarm notification you receive. Alarm users should use the appeal guidelines as a reference to determine what is considered a false alarm. A good rule of thumb is to determine if criminal activity has occurred and not whose fault it might have been.

I have moved out of the city/county/state, how can I close my account?

If you no longer own, rent, or are held responsible for the address you had a permit for, we encourage you to notify us in writing that you wish to close the permit account. The written letter can be mailed to:

Greenville False Alarm Reduction Unit
Greenville Police Department

PO Box 7207

Greenville, NC 27835-7207

I have moved from one local address to another, can I still use the same permit number?

No. Each permit is site and owner specific. If you move, you need a new permit. Keep in mind that all old permits need to be closed. If you happen to sell an address (business or house) with an installed alarm system, you cannot transfer the permit number to the new owner (even if they are going to use the same alarm company).

What is the Alarm School?

In lieu of paying one false alarm fine, you may opt to attend the Alarm School. The Alarm School consists of online reading material and a quiz. The reading material covers the basics of the alarm ordinance and methods to reduce or prevent false alarms. The quiz consists of questions taken directly from the reading material. To attend the Alarm School, login to your account at the Alarm User website and follow the link to Alarm School. Hint: If your location is prone to false alarms, then go over the reading material first without taking the quiz. Once you have corrected the problems causing false alarms at your location, take the quiz to remove the highest costing fine on your account.

Where can I get a copy of the Alarm Ordinance?

You can obtain a printed copy by selecting the following link: False Alarm Ordinance. The City of Greenville is urging everyone in the city who has an alarm to apply for an alarm permit this month. The City Council, in an effort to reduce the number of false alarms, passed an ordinance requiring anyone with an alarm (businesses and residences) to have a permit. The new law, which goes into effect October 1st, also spells out stiff penalties for those who do not have a permit.
“The purpose of the permit is to encourage alarm users to properly use and maintain the operational effectiveness of their systems so as to reduce or eliminate false alarms,” said Assistant City Attorney Bill Little. “False alarms unnecessarily consume officer time, waste fuel, increase the risk of accidents and, over time, reduce the quality of police service to other areas with a greater need for officer presence.”

Last Modified: 7/31/2012