PORT TOWNSEND — The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office is asking residents to register their alarm systems with the county now that a new ordinance is in effect.
The goal of requiring registration is to decrease the number of false alarm calls deputies must respond to, according to a release.
Chief Criminal Deputy Art Frank did not return calls asking for more comment this week.
The Sheriff’s Office responded to 387 false alarm calls in 2017. The alarms in many cases are caused by a defective alarm system or human error and responses take deputies away from other law enforcement activities.
Alarms can be registered with the Sheriff’s Office for $20 and renewal is required every two years. There is a grace period for registering alarms, according to the news release.
If an alarm is registered and the first false alarm occurs within a six-month period, it will result in a warning letter. After that a scaling fine for every false alarm within six months may be assessed from $50 to more than $200 for chronic offenders.
For more information, email alarm@co. jefferson.wa.us.
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Reporter Jesse Major can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56250, or at jmajor@peninsuladailynews.com.
