False Fire Alarms

1. False Alarms

2. False Fire Alarms
• From January 1, 2018 to September 12, 2018 the College Station Fire
Department has responded to 692 reported unintentional alarms or
system malfunctions.
• These calls stress our resources and possibly interferes with actual
life safety incidents
• Our proposal is to add language to Article IV section 12-113 – False
alarms to include fire alarms and the fire department.
• Some of these calls are a result of someone tampering with the fire
alarm system or the fire suppression system and that will be
addressed differently.

3. False Fire Alarms
(Original)Sec. 12-113. - False alarms.
(a) Upon notification by the City Police Department, the designated alarm user or subscriber, or one of
the persons listed on the emergency response card shall come to the scene of an alarm activation within
30 minutes of being notified of the alarm activation. Verification that an alarm is false shall be done by
Police Officers.
(b) An alarm user or subscriber shall be allowed three false alarms in a preceding 12-month period
without penalty. After this, a user or subscriber shall be assessed a fee established in Section 2-117.
(c) Any false alarms resulting from a failure to take the necessary corrective action to prevent any such
reoccurrence and/or nonpayment of any false alarm penalty may result in the College Station Chief of
Police providing a written notice ordering a disconnection of such alarm until such corrective action or
payment of fee is made, provided that no disconnection shall be ordered on any premises required by
law to have an alarm system in operation.
(New for fire)
(e) Upon notification by the College Station Fire Department, the designated alarm user or subscriber,
or one of the persons listed on the emergency response card shall come to the scene of an alarm
activation within 30 minutes of being notified of the alarm activation. Verification that an alarm is false
shall be done by Fire Official.
(f) An alarm user or subscriber shall be allowed three false alarms in a preceding 12-month period
without penalty. After this, a user or subscriber shall be assessed a fee established in Section 2-117.
(g) Any false alarms resulting from a failure to take the necessary corrective action to prevent any
such reoccurrence and/or nonpayment of any false alarm penalty may result in the College Station Fire
Official or College Station Building Official suspending or revoking the Certificate of Occupancy until the
fire safety equipment is in proper working order or payment is made.

4. False Fire Alarms
(Original)
Sec. 12-l 13(b). False alarms.
An alarm user or subscriber shall be allowed three false alarms in a preceding 12- month period without penalty.
After this, a user or subscriber shall be assessed a fine fee based on the following schedule established in Section 2-
117.
Number of False Alarms Fine
1-3 false alarms $0
4-5 false alarms $50.00
6-7 false alarms $75.00
8 or more false alarms $100.00
(New for Fire)
Sec. 12-l 13(b). False alarms.
An alarm user or subscriber shall be allowed three false alarms in a preceding 12- month period without penalty.
After this, a user or subscriber shall be assessed a fine fee based on the following schedule established in Section 2-
117.
Number of False Alarms Fine for the Police Department
1-3 false alarms $0
4-5 false alarms $50.00
6-7 false alarms $75.00
8 or more false alarms $100.00
Number of False Alarms Fine for the Fire Department
1-3 false alarms $0
4-5 false alarms $85.00
6-7 false alarms $110.50
8 or more false alarms $143.65

5. Fee’s
• These fees are calculated from the Texas TIFMAS (Texas Intrastate Fire
Mutual Aid System) guidelines of an engine and crew.