False security alarms will now cost residents and business owners more money.
On Tuesday city council approved amendments to the Alarm Bylaw to increase response fees.
The fee for false residential alarms jumps to $80 from $20. Small and large businesses will now pay $121 per false alarm call, compared to a previous $40 or $60.
Alarm monitoring companies must now verify an alarm is not false during hours that the premise is normally occupied prior to reporting the alarm to RCMP or face a penalty.
A first bylaw offence is $150, compared to a previous $50. A second and subsequent fines would be $500, instead $250.
Alarm companies must also verify one-zone alarms prior to police attendance.
The bylaw eliminates a previous rule requiring permits for new alarm installations, but will require alarm companies to report the locations of new alarm system installations.
In 2012, Red Deer RCMP dealt with 2,470 false security alarms, about half were businesses and the rest were residential calls. Of all the alarms police responded to after being notified by security companies, 97 per cent turned out to be false alarms.
A three-month grace period was proposed by city administration prior to the full implementation of the amendments in order to inform alarm holders and alarm monitoring companies.