Policy Text
Field Services Page 1 of 2 7/21 (NEW 10/07)
Use of SCAN Card / False Alarm Call Dispositions
This Order outlines the procedure for the use of the SCAN (Sacr amento County Alarm
Notification) card and the clear ing of false alarm calls in the CAD.
I. Purpose of SCAN card
The SCAN card (form 7400-099, Rev 10/07) is a c ourtesy notific ation used to
notify alarm users of a false ac tivation of their alarm system at their home or
business.
The objective in using the SCAN cards is to reduce false alarms by notifying
absent responsible parties that t heir alarm was erroneously act ivated. This
allows alarm users to fix thei r systems or procedures to elimin ate future false
activations.
The SCAN card replaces the forme r FAN (False Alarm Notificatio n) card (form
7400-099, Rev 11/01). The new SCAN card is business card sized , easily
carried in a pocket, and only requ ires a date to be written on it for documentation.
II. When to Use the SCAN card
The SCAN card shall be used at the scene of any type of false a larm call
(Robbery, Burglary, Panic, Or Dur ess) when either of the follow ing situations
exist:
A. No responsible party has been notified (in person, via telep hone, or by an
alarm company) that the alarm has been activated; and no other form of
documentation (i.e., business card, notepaper with report numbe r on it,
etc.) will be left at the scene to s erve as notification of the activation
B. A responsible party has been notified and is enroute, but de puties have
cleared the alarm scene prior to that party’s arrival.
NOTE: If deputies respond to an alarm activation and are unabl e to determine
the validity of the activation bec ause all or part of the premi ses are not
accessible, deputies should still use the SCAN card . An example of this would
be where the premises are fenced or locked, the driveway securi ty gate is
locked, or dogs are loose in the yard, etc.
Field Services Page 2 of 2 7/21 (NEW 10/07)
III. What to Do With the SCAN card
A. Deputies shall note the date of the activation on the backsi de of the SCAN
card. No other documentation is necessary. The SCAN card shou ld then
be placed nearest to the front door of a residence or business or in
another conspicuous location.
IV. How to Clear False Alarm Calls in the CAD
The Alarm Ordinance Bureau review s every alarm call for service that deputies
respond to. This is done to verif y in fact whether or not the alarm was false.
Verification that the alarm was false must be obtained before t he alarm owners
and alarm companies can be billed fo r false alarms or violation s of the ordinance.
A. In furtherance of this cause, deputies need to be very speci fic in their
dispositions of false alarms in the CAD:
1. The preferred prefix for such false alarms is “FALS.”, follo wed by
the comments supporting such a pre fix. For example, “FALS.EXT
SECURE,RESPONSIBLE 97”, o r “FALS.OWNER/EMPLOYEE
ERROR”
2. Deputies should also note the word “SCAN” somewhere in the f ree
text portion of the disposition field. For example, “FALS.EXT
SECURE, SCAN”
3. If deputies are advised to cancel their response while enrou te, the
correct disposition prefix is “C 4.” For example, “C4.PER ALARM
COMPANY”
B. Standalone dispositi on prefixes such as “ OTH.”, or “CLR.”, w ithout further
comments as to what was discove red at the scene or the reason w hy the
alarm call was cleared out, shoul d not be used. Such dispositi ons do not
provide Alarm Ordinanc e Bureau with sufficien t data to verify t he validity of
the alarm and impose any fine(s) upon the appropriate entity.
Clearing out the false alarm event s in the CAD by using these g uidelines aids the
Alarm Ordinance Bureau in the fals e alarm verification process. It also provides
documentation that the Sheriff’s Department notified the alarm holder of a false
alarm activation on ‘X’ day. Thi s documentation can then by us ed as evidence in
any future actions for collect ion of false alarm fines.