The Dunwoody City Council discussed adopting an ordinance to combat the number of false alarms police receive in the city.
Police Chief Billy Grogan said Sandy Springs and Johns Creek are also in the process of adopting a similar ordinance, which would fine people whose alarm systems cause excessive false alarms.
The three municipalities are members of the private 911 authority called ChatComm.
The Dunwoody Police Department reports responding to 2,079 alarm calls in 2012. Police say alarm calls are up almost 8 percent this year, and more than 98 percent of the alarm calls are for false alarms.
Grogan said Marietta’s false alarm ordinance has reduced that city’s number of false alarms by 70 percent over three years.
Dunwoody’s proposed ordinance would require people to register their alarm systems and pay an annual registration fee.
Grogan said the fees typically go toward the cost of hiring an outside business to collect fines for false alarms.
“Most jurisdictions that have an alarm ordinance have registration fees,” Grogan said. “More and more jurisdictions are outsourcing this.”
Several council members expressed hesitation over charging residents with alarm systems a $15 fee.
“I think we’ll get a lot of pushback from our citizens,” said Councilman Doug Thompson.
Councilman Terry Nall suggested that the city charge a higher registration fee only to businesses, which Grogan said account for the majority of false alarm calls.
At its next meeting council plans to vote on the ordinance with a $25 registration fee for businesses and no registration fee for residents.