MuskogeePhoenix.com, Muskogee, OK

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March 23, 2010

Fines in future for false alarms

By Liz McMahan

A city ordinance requiring registration of fire and burglar alarm systems goes into effect Monday, said Derek Tatum, fire chief.

There is no fee for registration, but fines and fees can be levied for nuisance and false alarms — where help is summoned but not needed.

Last year, there were more than 4,000 of those calls in Muskogee, prompting the adoption of the registration ordinance.

The Muskogee Fire Department has mailed out application forms, and they are available from the City Clerk’s Office in the Municipal Building, Third Street and Okmulgee Avenue.

City Clerk Pam Bush said her office is receiving quite a number of completed forms from alarm companies and individuals.

Tatum said the ordinance requiring alarm registration is not new.

“We’re just catching up,” Tatum said. “In many other cities, they’ve had this type of ordinance for some time.”

The ordinance allows three false alarms per year from individual security systems. A fee of $50 would be imposed for the fourth false alarm and $100 for the fifth incident.

The sixth incident and any after that could carry a $200 administrative fine.

After seven incidents, the alarm owner could be charged in municipal court and fined $200 or more per offense.



Reach Liz McMahan at 918-684-2926 orClick Here to Send Email

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