Policy Text
CATEGORY DATE ADOPTED LAST REVIEW
2 01/24/2011 12/01/201 9
TUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT
STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES
SS524 - False Alarm Reduction Program 1 SS524 FALSE ALARM REDUCTION PROGRAM
SS524.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE
The purpose of this procedure is to describe the process for alarm permit applications and
billing.
The Tustin Police Department does not provide any direct monitoring of commercial or
residential alarms. All alarm responses are based upon calls for service from the general
public , commercial alarm companies , or officer observations.
SS524 .1.2 ACCREDITATION STANDARDS
This p rocedure pertains to the following CALEA Standards: 81.2.12 , 81.2.13
This p rocedure pertains to the following General Order(s): N/A
This procedure is related to Standard Operating Procedure: CP112
SS524 .2 PROGRAM
The City of Tustin implemented a false alarm reduction program to include mandatory alarm
permits for business es and residences with alarm systems and a fee schedule addressing false
alarm responses . The program’s primary goal is to reduce the amount of police response s to
false alarm s. Continued police response to false alarms wastes valuable officer patrol time, can
create officer complacency and continued audible alarms become a neighborhood nuisance.
SS524.3 ALARM PERMIT
All owners of an alarm system, business or residential, mu st have an alarm permit. The alarm
permit application can be found on the department’s website. Businesses must also have a
license to conduct business, which is obtained from the city’s Business License Department.
Permits are valid for the current calend ar year or remainder thereof.
SS524.4 NOTIFICATION
Generally there are two types of false alarms, burglary and robbery. The type of false alarm and
whether a location has a valid permit will dictate which letter of notification is sent.
• No Permit Letter : used when the location does not have a current alarm permit on file.
• Burglary False Alarm : used for three or more false burglar y alarm s per location .
• Robbery False Alarm : used for one to three false robbery alarm s per location.
• Excess Burglary : used for four to ten false burglar y alarm s per location.
• Excess Robbery : used for three to ten false robbery alarm s per location.
CATEGORY DATE ADOPTED LAST REVIEW
2 01/24/2011 12/01/201 9
TUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT
STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES
SS524 - False Alarm Reduction Program 2 • Intent to Revoke : used for the first step in the alarm permit revocation process.
• Notice of Revocation : used for the final step in the alarm permit revocation process.
SS524.5 FEE SCHEDULE
Yearly Alarm Permit – Residential $10.00
Yearly Alarm Permit – Business $25.00
4th false burglary alarm in calendar period $50.00
5th false burglary alarm in calendar period $75.00
6th false burglary alarm in calendar period $100.00
7th and successive false burglary alarm in calendar period $250.00
1st – 3rd false robbery alarm in calendar period $100.00
4th and successive false robbery alarm in calendar period $250.00
Police response to any alarm , false or not, at non-permitted location $250.00
Locations with valid alarm permits accrue fees after three (3) false burglar y alarms. All false
robbery alarms accrue fees.
SS524.6 ALARM PERMIT REVOCATION
Any burglar y alarm which causes more than ten (10) false alarms, or any manually activated
robbery alarm which causes more than four (4) false alarms, within any consecutive 365 day
period, may be declared a public nuisance, and will be subject to revocation of permit . The
Police Department will no longer be required to respond to alarms at said address once the
Police Department has sent a letter, return receipt requested, to the owner or occupant of the
subject premises advising of the cessation of such service. The permittee shall have fifteen (15)
days from the date of issuance of the notice of intent to revoke to respond and present evidence
to the Chief of Police that he /she has corrected any deficiencies in the equipment or operation
of the alarm system or that he/she has paid those fees owed to the City under this chapter.
Within five (5) days of the date on which such evidence is presented, the Chief of Police shall
notify the permittee of his /her decision. Absent any evidentiary showing by the permittee, the
Chief of Police shall issue an order of revocation. The order of revocation shall be effective
immediately if personally served on the permittee, or seventy -two (72) hours after the order has
been sent by certified mail addressed to the permittee at his /her last known address.