Repeated false burglary alarms wasteful for town

EAST BRUNSWICK - Township officials are considering an increase in fees for people whose burglary alarms repeatedly go off without justification.

False alarms cost the township thousands of dollars each year in terms of police hours, according to Business Administrator James White. He said almost 6,000 police hours each year are wasted responding to false alarms. That is equal of three full-time officers' schedules.

As a result, the Township Council is considering raising the fees as a way of letting residents and business owners know that they need to control their alarm systems.

The fees would only be charged to those whose alarms go off more than four times in the course of a calendar year, White said, though Councilman Donald Klemp later suggested a longer period of time.

White, noting that false alarms are a problem in all municipalities, said that in 2006 East Brunswick police responded to over 3,000 false alarms. The protocol is for two police officers to show up for each call, and it takes an average of 45 minutes between reporting to the scene and completing the report.

White said the township is on pace for similar numbers this year.

The administrator noted that when residents hear fees are being raised, they often think the township is just trying to make more money.

"I'd be very happy if there is never a false alarm we have to respond to," White said. "Believe me, we do not make money on false alarms."

Although the township does collect money on fees meted out to chronic false alarms, the money collected pales in comparison to what is spent on police manpower, he said.

The fees have not been raised since the 1980s.

The item was up for discussion at the Dec. 10 council meeting, when White proposed the increased fees. While the township would forgive the first three false alarms, there would be a charge of $25 for each subsequent false alarm during that calendar year.

White said police get accustomed to properties that have consistent false alarms, and come to expect them, but this could lead to a false sense of security should an alarm turn out be a true burglary. He noted how many people tend to disregard car alarms because of the frequency with which they go off.

"You want an alarm to be an alarm," White said.

Council President Nancy Pinkin said she does not think the fees go high enough. She wants residents and business owners to either turn their alarms off or face pay- ing a higher fee for the police time.

But White said he did not want the fees to go as high as those in nearby towns such as South Brunswick and Sayreville.

Councilman David Stahl asked if businesses generate more false alarms than residences, adding that he would support having a higher fee imposed on businesses. White said it does take police longer to look make sure a business is safe.

Township Attorney Michael Baker said that, if it were more costly to respond to false alarms from businesses, the township would have a rational basis, and thus be free from discrimination claims, for charging more in fees.