Effective December 21, 2009 False Alarm Ordinance O-19-20 has been repealed. It is anticipated that a new False Alarm Ordinance will be presented by County Council at its next regular meeting on January 25, 2010.
The False Alarm Administrators will continue to receive and process alarm registrations during the interim.
In an effort to decrease the number of false alarms in the unincorporated areas of the county, Spartanburg County Council passed a False Alarm Ordinance. A false alarm is any signal or communication generated by or from an alarm system which prompts a response by emergency services in the County and outside any city limits and after an investigation reveals there is no indication of an emergency which would require the need for immediate assistance. Alarms that are cancelled before emergency personnel arrive will not be considered a false alarm. Under this Ordinance, we can improve the effectiveness of our law enforcement and/or emergency services and maximize resources available to the public. Through education and accountability, the number of repetitive false alarms can be reduced.
The Ordinance requires the registration of all alarm systems, registration of alarm businesses and tracking of all false alarms. Two false alarms are allowed every six months at no charge. However, each subsequent false alarm will have a progressive fee associated with it. Registrations are required to assist emergency personnel in determining the exact location of an alarm, any special conditions that may exist, and the names of any individuals who are authorized to respond in case of emergency. Alarms operating prior to July 1, 2009, are required to have a permit within ninety (90) days from the effective date of the ordinance. The effective date was August 17, 2009. All alarm systems installed after that date, are required to have a permit within thirty (30) days after the installation. After January 1, 2010, any alarm that is responded to by emergency personnel which is not registered will be citied for failure to register the alarm and be subject to a two hundred fifty-dollar ($250.00) fine and/or 30 days imprisonment.
A copy of the Ordinance, the False Alarm Guide, and all necessary forms are available on our website at www.spartanburgcounty.org. All information is also available at the Spartanburg County Administrative Offices located at 366 North Church Street. Please read all information to ensure proper registration. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the office of the False Alarm Coordinators at (864) 596-3202 or (864) 562-4416 Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:30 am and 5:00 pm.
Informational workshops will be held in Council Chambers at the Administrative Offices of Spartanburg County, 366 North Church Street on October 27 at 3:00 pm, November 10 at 6:00 pm, November 18 at 11:00 am, and December 16, 2009 at 5:30 pm.
By decreasing the number of repetitive false alarms, we can increase the effectiveness of our law enforcement and/or emergency services. In addition, a reduction in responses to false alarms will reduce vehicle costs and manpower expenses. Thank you for your support of the False Alarm Ordinance in Spartanburg County. |
