False Alarm
Overview
The Salinas City Council took action in regard to false alarms for the Salinas Fire Department. This is an an effort to reduce the demand for limited and critical public safety resources.
Current response statistics reflect the vast majority of responses to fire alarm activation are unwarranted due to deferred and/or improper maintenance, defective or malfunctioning sensors, and obsolete or aged systems. A false fire alarm is defined as; “An emergency response of Fire Department resources for any alarm where upon arrival, or if by cancellation en-route, no emergency existed”.
- 1st Response - $416.25
- 2nd Response - $416.25
- 3rd Response - $951.75
- 4+ Response - $1,308.75
Sec. 22A-6. - False alarm fees.
(a)False alarm fees shall be as established by resolution of the city council. Such false alarm fees may be progressively higher for each false alarm which occurs within a twelve-month period.
(b)In addition to any other remedies available to the city pursuant to this Code or state law, the fire chief may, pursuant to the procedure set forth in this article, impose false alarm fees to recover the costs of fire department responses to multiple fire alarms, which resulted from causes other than acts of nature, within a twelve-month period.
(c)Fees established and/or levied by this section shall be paid to the city's finance department within thirty calendar days from the date of when the invoice was issued.
Appeal Process
Sec. 22A-7. - 9.90.110. Procedure for Imposition of False Alarm Fees.
(a) Notice of Imposition. The fire chief, or his designee, shall deliver to the alarm user at the address where the false alarms originate a notice of the imposition of false alarm fees. The notice shall specify the date, time and nature of the events which are the basis for the imposition of false alarm fees. The notice shall state that the alarm user has the right to request a hearing before the fire chief by submitting a written request to the fire chief within ten days of the date of the notice.
(b) Hearing on Imposition. Upon the receipt of a timely written request from the alarm user for a hearing, the matter shall be set for a hearing before the fire chief on a date which is at least one week from the date of receipt of the request for a hearing. At the hearing, the alarm user may present relevant evidence regarding the alleged grounds for the imposition of false alarm fees.
(c) Decision. The fire chief shall notify the alarm user of his/her decision in writing by certified mail by no later than two weeks after the hearing. The decision of the fire chief shall be final.
(d) Collection of Fees. In the event of the failure of any person to pay the fees assessed pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, the city may institute an action in any court of competent jurisdiction to collect any charges, together with interest, which may be due and payable and all administrative costs of collection in the same manner as any other debt owing to the city may be collected.
(Ord. No. 2579 (NCS), § 1, 9-20-2016)