False alarms could mean fines
Posted By SEAN CHASE
Posted 2 months ago
An amendment to the town's new false-alarm bylaw received passage last week by a 5-1 vote.
Council approved an amendment to the legislation which removed the words "attendance by" in the bylaw replacing them with the words "dispatch of " emergency services responding to a false alarm.
It essentially means that even if firefighters or police do not arrive at a residence or business after being called out by a false alarm, a $300 fine may be levied to the owner.
The one dissenting vote came from Deputy Mayor Ed Chow who opposed the change believing it to be unfair.
"I feel that it's not right that the security system holder should be charged to an offence if there is not a response by the police or fire department," said Deputy Mayor Chow. "I feel that is wrong."
Mayor Bob Sweet said later it was a minor amendment to clean up the language in the bylaw, which was formally enacted earlier this year as a solution to reducing the high number of false alarms in the municipality.
"A bylaw is a living document," he said. "It has to be changed as circumstances change. "
Last month, Petawawa fire chief Steve Knott reported to council that a rash of recent false alarms has proven to be a drain on the department and its resources, especially as volunteer firefighters have to leave their places of employment to respond to an unnecessary emergency call.
Mayor Sweet said council will still debate those concerns in committee at a later date.
Under the bylaw's wording, a false alarm means any alarm incident that is not a valid alarm, and shall include any testing of the alarm system, any mechanical failure, malfunction or faulty equipment, any user error on the part of any responsible party, a monitoring company or any other person, and any atmospheric conditions or electrical power disruptions.
The bylaw recognizes "no fault alarms" where an alarm is triggered by natural causes or conditions beyond the control of the alarm user including, but not limited to, an alarm actually or apparently activated by atmospheric conditions, excessive vibrations or extended power failure.
The bylaw outlines that if a second response is made to the same premises by police or fire services in the same calendar year, a written notice will be sent to the owner.
After a third and subsequent response, a fine in the amount of $300 will be imposed.
Sean Chase is a Daily Observer reporter
