Revisions to Cathedral City Alarm Policy
Dear Realty Professionals,
Since August 1st, 2010, the Cathedral City Police Department has been utilizing a Verified Alarm Response Policy (VAR) to evaluate and respond to residential and business alarms. Verified Alarm Response was implemented due to excessive false burglar and robbery alarms and a lack of resources and personnel to adequately respond to those calls. In order to better serve the community, the Police Department conceived a novel approach to addressing the concerns of our residential and business districts in order to once again respond to ALL alarms in the City without the need for verification.
On Wednesday, December 15th, the City Council approved a new Alarm Ordinance and Alarm User Permit and Fee Schedule. The new ordinance, permit, and fee schedule will allow the Police Department to add additional personnel to respond to all alarm calls; thus, serving the needs and expectations of our citizens and business community.
Effective January 2012, all residents and businesses with an alarm system will be required to obtain an Alarm Users Permit with the City. The Alarm Users Permit will be made available at the Cathedral City Police Department, as well as online at www.CathedralCityAlarm.org. The website to be available to the public before January 1st, 2011. Permit applications are currently available at the front counter of the Police Department.
Clients and customers with valid Alarm Permits will be allowed one false alarm response per year without incurring any false alarm response fees. In the event a client or customer has a second false alarm in any 365 day period, they will be given the option of completing an online alarm education course to reduce the response fee for the second false alarm. The purpose of the online education course is to provide alarm users with additional resources and information to assist them with becoming better alarm owners, and minimizing the potential for false alarm responses.
Here is some of the alarm fee information:
Alarm User Permit:
If obtained 90 days after alarm activation (late fee)
Annual Alarm Permit Renewal:
If renewed within 30 days of expiration date
If renewed more than 30 days after expiration date
If renewed more than 90 days after expiration date
Second False Burglar Alarm*
Third False Burglar Alarm*
Fourth or more False Burglar Alarm*
Second False Robbery Alarm*
Third False Robbery Alarm*
Fourth or more False Robbery Alarm*
Re-issued Alarm User Permit*
First Response to Non-permitted Burglar or Robbery Alarm*
Second or more Response to Non-permitted Burglar or Robbery Alarm*
Online Alarm Education - Diversion Course
$35
$55
$30
$30
$40
$50
$100
$150
$200
$100
$150
$200
$200
$100
$200
$25
*(Within ANY 365 day period)
The Cathedral City Police Department is asking for your assistance in familiarizing yourself with the new Alarm Ordinance and Alarm Permit and Fee Schedule change. The new Alarm Ordinance will be available in the online Municipal Code under Chapter 8.28 Security Alarm Systems at www.cathedralcity.gov after January 15th, 2012.
I have included the Alarm Permit Application as an attachment. If you have any questions, please call or email Lieutenant Charles Robinson at 760-770-0394 (crobinson@cathedralcity.gov).
IMC Inc.
