Burglar Alarms - LAPD

Does the City offer Alarm school? Yes, the City offers an Online Alarm School program, as well as a Home-Study Alarm School program for permitted alarm system users only. By completing either program, you may have one false alarm fee waived per 365 days.For Online Alarm School:Log on to: lapdalarmschool.lapd.lacity.orgFor Online Alarm School, it is important to note that you will need yourregistration and invoice number, and your invoice must not be older than 75 days. For Home-Study Alarm School:Request that the Home-Study Alarm School package be mailed to you by callingthe Alarm Section at 213-996-1200 between the hours of 8:00 am and 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday, except holidays.

How can I appeal a false alarm fee and/or penalty?You may appeal in writing to the Board of Police Commissioners. Mail your request and documentation to: Board of Police Commissioners, Attention: Alarm Section, 100 West 1st Street, Suite #147, Los Angeles, CA 90012.A service charge shall be waived or reversed when the Board or its designee has determined that activation of the alarm system was caused by:Criminal activity as evidenced by an Investigative Report (IR) filed within 30 days of the alarm date, or other verifiable evidence of a crime occurring on the alarm date which is deemed acceptable by the Board; or Acts of nature such as earthquake, flood, gale force wind, fire and verifiable power or telephone line failure. Examples of alarms that are not grounds for a waiver are faulty equipment, disputes with the alarm company, operator error, rodent and animal activation, and prevailing wind conditions. Other QuestionsI was contacted by a collections agency concerning past due false alarm fees. Why? If you have failed to pay your false alarm fees after several notifications, the City will forward the past due billing to a collection agency. Contact the LAPD Alarm Section (Phone Number: 213-996-1279, FAX Number: 213-922-9648), to ensure that your fees are paid timely and in full. How do I file a complaint about my burglar alarm service?Complaints may be filed with the State of California Department of Consumer Affairs. To obtain a complaint form or file your complaint online, log on to www.dca.ca.gov or call 800-952-5210 to have a complaint form mailed to you. You may also file a civil claim against your alarm company by contacting the Los Angeles County Superior Court, Small Claims Advisor at 213-974-9759 or go to www.lasuperiorcourt.org/smallclaims. Where does the false alarm revenue go?Monies collected from permit and false alarm fees are deposited to the Citys general fund. The general fund finances the operation of parks, zoos, libraries, animal shelters, police and fire services, among other services. Does the Alarm Ordinance require the Police Officer to leave a "Notice of False Alarm" when they respond to a false alarm?No. The Los Angeles Municipal Code (LAMC) does not require them to do so. These notifications serve only as a courtesy.Is my alarm system connected to the Los Angeles Police Department?No. Your alarm system is connected to your alarm monitoring company who in turn calls the LAPD when your alarm system is activated.My alarm company dispatched the LAPD in error. Why was the false alarm bill sent to me, not to my alarm company?You were provided with the special service by the LAPD, in response to your alarm company's request for police response. If you did not authorize the dispatch, contact your alarm company and request that they reimburse you for their mistake.We dont know why the alarm system went off. What are we supposed to do?The alarm system always goes off for a reason. Find out what sensor activated and what caused it to activate. Take steps to ensure that it does not happen again. Call your alarm company for assistance.My out of town relatives activated my alarm system. Could the charge be waived?No. This is considered user error. Those who have legal access to your location must know how to operate your alarm system. Why cant we file a complaint against the alarm company with the City of Los Angeles?The City of Los Angeles does not regulate alarm companies. It is the State of California, Department of Consumer Affairs, that has control over the performance of alarm companies, alarm agents, and private patrol companies relating to the installation, repair and monitoring of burglar alarm systems. There was a power outage on the alarm date. What do I need to do to have the charge waived or deleted?Request the Department of Water and Power (DWP) to verify the power outage. Send the request to DWP, P.O.Box 515407, Room 657, Los Angeles, CA 90051, ATTENTION: Andrew Chatton/Lynda Hill. Upon receipt of the DWP verification, mail the bill and the verification to the Board of Police Commissioners, Alarm Section, 100 West First Street, Suite 147, Los Angeles, CA 90012.There was a telephone outage on the alarm date. What do I need to do to have the charge waived or deleted?Call the telephone number showing on your telephone bill to request written verification of telephone line failure. Upon receipt of the verification, mail the bill and the verification to the Board of Police Commissioners, Alarm Section,100 West First Street, Suite 147, Los Angeles, CA 90012.I live in a hilly area and my alarm always goes off when it is windy. Will the Board of Police Commissioners waive or delete the charges due to false alarms resulting from prevailing wind conditions?No, Under the Los Angeles Police Commission Rules Governing Alarm Systems, wind must be in excess of 70 mph to warrant a waiver or removal of the false alarm service charges. I pay my taxes. Why do I need to pay for police response to a false alarm?Responses to false alarms are a special service rendered by the LAPD. It is a service not used by the general population.Theres an alarm system that keeps going off in my neighborhood. Who do I call to report this?Contact the LAPD, Alarm Section, at 213-996-1200. Provide the Alarm Section staff with the exact address of the alarm location, the business name or residence owner, alarm company name, and telephone number. I was burglarized on the alarm date. What should I do to delete the date from my false alarm history?Contact the local police station to file a investigative report. Mail the Investigative Report (IR) to the Board of Police Commissioners, Alarm Section, 100 West First Street, Room 147, Los Angeles, CA 90012.I instructed my alarm company to contact me first before dispatching the LAPD. Why did the LAPD officers respond to the alarm activation?LAPD officers responded to the alarm activation because your alarm company dispatched the LAPD. Contact your alarm company for clarification.How does the City calculate the false alarm fees?The false alarm fee is based on the actual cost incurred by the City to have LAPD officers respond to the alarm call. The costs include equipment, salary, and other administrative costs incurred by the City.Will I receive police response after two false alarms within a 365-day period?After two false alarms within a 365-day period your location will be put on a broadcast and file status. This means that LAPD would require verification of an unauthorized entry or attempted unauthorized entry upon the premises, building, or structure protected by the burglar alarm system. Please refer to the Burglar Alarm Dispatch Policy for the acceptable methods of verification.If verification is requested and it is unavailable, the LAPD will broadcast the alarm call for any available unit to respond. If there is an available police unit, you will receive police service. If there is no available police unit, the alarm call will be filed with no police response.Is verification required for a robbery alarm call?No. Verification is not required for a robbery alarm call. A robbery alarm call includes duress, panic, hold-up, and robbery-in-progress alarms.Why cant my alarm company cancel a robbery alarm call?Due to the nature and urgency of a robbery alarm call, it is mandatory for the LAPD to respond to this type of call. It is extremely important that the panic alarm button is activated only when necessary.I had a false alarm during the first seven days following a new alarm system installation (also called a seven-day soak period). Does that qualify for a waiver of the false alarm fee(s)?No. A waiver of the false alarm fee(s) cannot be granted during the seven-day soak period. LAMC Section 103.206(I)(8) states: No alarm company shall within seven days following a new alarm system installation, cause a request for service to be placed with the LAPD prior to verification. It is suggested that you recover the cost of police response from your alarm company.