False alarm fees and fines set

Whitefish has established registration fees and fines attached to a new law that addresses false burglar and fire alarms that have become an ongoing challenge for first responders in the city.

According to Police Chief Bill Dial, there were 124 false fire alarms and 285 false burglar alarms in Whitefish last year.

Earlier this month, Whitefish adopted a new law that holds property owners and businesses accountable for false security and fire alarms.

Last week, the city established registration fees for alarm system companies and property owners with alarm systems, and set out a fee schedule for false alarms.

Alarm companies will be required to register with the city and pay a one-time $100 license fee.

Property owners also will be required to register their security systems and pay a one-time $25 registration fee. While the fee only applies to newly installed alarm systems, all alarm systems in the city need to be registered, Dial said. If an alarm system is not registered it’s a possibility that police and fire won’t respond.

Dial says the department is crafting a plan to get all alarm systems registered. The department has reached out to alarm companies for a customer list, which will be used to contact home and business owners with alarms.

Dial says a procedure to register alarms should be available in the next month.

The new false alarm fines will be charged when city emergency crews responds to false emergency, fire and police alarms from the same location within a running 12-month period.

There is no charge for a single false alarm in a running year.

After a second false alarm in a year, a property owner will be required to provide a certificate verifying the security system has been inspected and is properly working.

A $50 fee is charged on the fourth false alarm. A fifth or more false alarm carries a $300 fee per incident.