Anne Arundel County police are offering online registration for security alarms starting this week as part of an attempt to crack down on false alarms.
Registration is required under a new law, which fines owners of properties that have repeated false alarms, said police spokesman Justin Mulcahy. When the law took effect in August, county officials said enforcement wouldn't begin until January because they did not have a contract with a company to run the program.
In December, the Waldorf-based Public Safety Corp. was contracted to handle alarm registration, false alarm notifications, billing, collections and customer support, according to Mulcahy.
"Fire alarms do not apply, but dual alarms do apply. If you have an alarm that is designed to get a police response, then you have to register," he said. All alarm users - home, business and government - must register, as well as businesses that install, monitor or service alarms.
Register online registration at www.crywolf.us/annearundel.
The site can also be accessed through aacounty.org/Police/Forms.cfm.
The form can also be mailed to P.O. Box 632442, Baltimore 21263-2442. People can call the Public Safety Corp. at 877-215-4592.
The law is aimed at reducing repeated false alarms. Two false alarms in a one-year period are allowed. But the third and fourth false alarms in that time frame will result in $50 fines, and the fifth, a $75 fine. More false alarms will lead to increased fines, up to $250.
Police said that in 2008, of the 31,206 alarms calls, only 230 involved an actual crime taking place. That equals an estimated 8,582 hours of wasted time because of false alarms.
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