For the third time, council put off a decision about an amendment to the City’s Security Systems Bylaw, May 7.
The change, if approved, would see Airdronians billed for false alarms when RCMP is dispatched, whether an officer attends the scene or not.
Two readings of the bylaw, which was first presented to council on Jan. 16, were passed, with Alderman Allan Hunter the lone dissenter.
However, permission for third reading was not granted, putting the legislation on hold once again.
“My suggestion is that we come back with a bylaw that says RCMP won’t attend, private security companies will attend,” said Hunter. “Then we’re not wasting RCMP resources. They can go after more bad guys.”
Should the private security company be unable to reach the business or residence, an employee could be dispatched to the scene, Hunter added. The RCMP would only be called if the alarm proved to be a real emergency.
If it was a false alarm, the security company would bill the alarm owners, eliminating the need for RCMP to be involved.
Sgt. Dennis Esayenko of the Airdrie RCMP said the organization wouldn’t be able to support that amendment.
“Our role is to provide the community with safety,” he said. “It would be a breach of our code of conduct to not attend an alarm.”
Alderman Fred Burley said owners should be charged.
“A false alarm is a false alarm,” he said. “It wastes police time.”
Council implemented the Security Systems Bylaw in January 2011. It allows leeway in that first-time false alarms are not subject to a fine.
In 2011, RCMP was called to 1,068 false alarms. There were 159 false alarm fines for non-residential and 113 for residential properties.
The idea behind the proposed amendment to the bylaw was to cut down on the number of false alarms.
Currently, Airdrie residents and businesses are charged $75 for a residential and $125 for a non-residential false alarm.
Second and subsequent infractions within a year at the same location will cost $150 for residential and $250 for non-residential properties.
If an RCMP officer is dispatched but does not attend a false alarm, there are at least three people involved including the dispatcher, the RCMP support staff and the officer, stated the staff report. It added, the incident takes at least one-half hour.
Alderman Kelly Hegg was in favour of the amendment.
“The bylaw is about responsibility,” he said. “I think it’s time to try it out.”
Aldermen Hegg, Murray Buchanan, Burley, Ron Chapman and Mayor Peter Brown voted in favour of amending the bylaw. Hunter was opposed.
The matter will be brought back to council at a future date.
