You may pay for false alarms
A rising number of false alarms are forcing fire departments across Northern Michigan to consider fining homes and businesses with faulty security systems.
They say responding to those non-emergencies is a waste of time and money.
Petoskey Fire Chief John Calabrese says, "We responded to more than 300 calls on alarms, about 90% of them were false."
Calabrese says most systems could be fixed with simple maintenance. "It can be very frustrating and very expensive for individual municipalities who have off duty or volunteers."
Elk Rapids Township Fire Department also is seeing a number of false alarms. Crews have been going to the same condominiums over and over again this year because of faulty security systems.
Supervisor Bill White says plans are in the works to reduce the number of false alarms. It includes an ordinance that would force residents and businesses to pay fines for excessive calls.
