The objective of this ordinance is to reduce the number of false alarms, which are generated each day within the City of Wichita so emergency personnel are free to respond to real emergencies.  As a general rule, 99% of the alarm dispatches called into the Emergency Communications Center on a daily basis, are false alarms.  Many of these false alarms are due to accidental tripping of the alarm, a pet tripping the alarm, initial testing of the equipment, improperly installed or adjusted equipment, or faulty equipment.  Whatever the reason, Wichita emergency personnel resources are dispatched for each alarm called into the Emergency Communications Center by an alarm business.  The False Alarm response fee is based on these alarm business dispatch calls to the Emergency Communications Center. 

The following information is a summary of the City’s Alarm Systems Ordinance and is not intended to cover everything included within the ordinance.  Whenever summarization creates a conflict, the official ordinance governs.  A copy of the entire ordinance is available for review at the City Clerk’s office.

1.            License Fee.  An annual non-refundable fee of one hundred dollars ($100.00) shall accompany each application for an alarm business license.  Further, each alarm business shall submit payment of all outstanding administrative penalties, as a requirement of completing the application process.

2.            Revocation of license.  An alarm business license may be revoked if it has been determined that the business has:

a.    Made any false statements or given any false information in connection with an application for a license or a renewal or a reinstatement.

b.    Violated any provision of the City’s Alarm Systems Ordinance.

c.    Committed any act, which would be grounds for denial of an application for a license.

d.    Failed to pay more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) in administrative penalties as required by the City’s Alarm Systems Ordinance.

3.           Required Operational Practices. When an alarm business leases or installs an alarm system:

a.            Installation must comply with the City’s Alarm Systems Ordinance.

b.            The alarm business shall offer service for that alarm system on a twenty-four hour, seven-day-a-week basis and have a person located within Sedgwick County responsible for repair and maintenance of the alarm system.  This information shall be provided to the alarm user, in writing, at the time of the lease or installation.

c.            The alarm user shall be provided written instructions on how to operate the system and any user maintenance, which may be required.  The written instruction will be in clear, concise language the alarm user can read and understand.

d.            When an alarm user elects to have law enforcement personnel as the first response after an alarm activation, it shall be the responsibility of the alarm business to:

1)            Provide the alarm user, at the time of the lease or installation of the alarm system, a written copy of the City’s false alarm penalties and procedures. 

2)            Forward to the city treasurer a copy of the City’s false alarm penalties and procedures signed by the alarm user, acknowledging that the user understands how to operate the alarm system and also understands the City’s billing system for false alarms.

3)            Register, with the city treasurer, each alarm system monitored by the business, prior to commencement of monitoring.  Registration fee is ten dollars ($10.00) per alarm user.

4)            Notify the city treasurer of termination of monitoring and changes in ownership of property.

5)            Re-register alarm users if they change addresses or alarm companies. Alarm user registrations are not transferable.

6)            Attempt to contact alarm user by telephone, prior to contacting the communications center, to verify that the alarm is valid.

7)            Provide the alarm user’s permit number, name and address when contacting the communications center regarding an alarm.

8)          Administrative Penalty.  If an alarm is received by the communications center from an alarm system, which has not been registered with the City, an administrative penalty of one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00) shall be assessed against the alarm business that notifies the communications center to dispatch to the unregistered alarm address.  Payment of fees is due thirty (30) days from original invoice date.  In the event the administrative fee is not paid within sixty (60) days of notification, a late fee in the amount of ten dollars ($10.00) per false alarm call shall be added to the amount due.  An additional late fee of ten dollars ($10.00) will be assessed on each response fee which remains unpaid 90 days following notification.  After 90 days following notification the account may be turned over for collection.  The City encourages all alarm businesses to offer private security personnel as the first response for all alarm users to assist in the reduction of false alarms received by the communications center.

Appeals:  Should a disagreement arise over an administrative penalty an appeal may be submitted in writing by the alarm business within thirty (30) days from the original invoice date.  A copy of the invoice needs to be included in the appeal.  Appeals must be sent to the Alarm Administrator, Wichita Police Department, 455 N. Main, Wichita KS, 67202

NOTE:  Only those alarm users that request law enforcement personnel as the first response after an alarm activation are required to be registered.  If an alarm user elects private security personnel as the first response, pre-registration is not necessary.  If private security personnel respond to an alarm and determine the alarm is a valid alarm that requires law enforcement personnel to respond, the private security personnel may contact the communications center to request assistance at no charge to the alarm user or alarm company.

4.            Confidentiality of Information.  All information submitted in compliance with this chapter shall be held in strictest confidence; shall be deemed a public record exempt from disclosure; and shall be kept so the contents thereof shall not be known except to persons responsible for administration and enforcement of this chapter.  Nothing herein, however, shall prevent the use of such information for law enforcement purposes.

Alarm System Summary for Alarm Users

1.            Response Fee. The user of an alarm system to which law enforcement personnel are requested as a first response shall be charged a response fee of forty dollars ($40.00) for each false alarm.  If the false alarm is a duress or holdup alarm, the fee shall be fifty dollars ($50.00) for each residential false alarm and seventy dollars ($70.00) for each business false alarm.  Payment of fees is due thirty (30) days from original invoice date.  In the event the response fee is not paid within sixty (60) days of notification, a late fee in the amount of ten dollars ($10.00) per false alarm call shall be added to the amount due.  An additional late fee of ten dollars ($10.00) will be assessed on each response fee which remains upaid 90 days following notification.  After 90 days, following notification to the alarm user, the account my be turned over for collection. 

2.            No response fee shall be charged:

a.          For the first alarm each calendar year

b.           When it is reasonable to assume that the alarm was due to violent conditions of nature, including an electrical storm, which have been verified by the National Weather Service to have been in the area where the alarm system is located at the time of the activation

c.            For cable, line or power failure which has been specifically verified by the appropriate utility company serving the alarm location

d.            For those alarms where the communications center is notified within four (4) minutes of receipt of notification of the alarm that emergency medical, law enforcement or fire personnel are not required.  The Emergency Communications Center requires that the alarm business cancel the dispatch.

e.            For those alarms resulting from valid situations requiring an urgent response by law enforcement, fire or emergency medical personnel as verified by a report filed by such personnel.

f.              For those alarms received by a medical alarm system.

3.            Appeals.  Should a disagreement arise over a particular response fee, the facts surrounding the circumstances of the alarm activation shall within thirty (30) days of the date of the first invoice for the alarm, be presented in writing by the alarm user with a ten dollar ($10.00) administrative fee to the alarm administrator.  In the event of determination that no response fee should be assessed, or if the administrative penalty appeal is granted, the ten dollar ($10.00) administrative fee shall be refunded.  Appeals should be sent to the Alarm Administrator, City of Wichita Police Department, 455 N. Main, Wichita KS  67202.  Please see the complete Alarm Systems Ordinance for procedures and consideration given to appeals.