The price of a false alarm in Roseville is about to go up.
Roseville City Council has voted to impose steep fees on citizens who have repeat visits from police for false alarms from automatic security systems.
Roseville Police Lt. Lorne Rosand said about 98 percent of police visits, both in Roseville and nationally, for security alarms turn out to be false, and a high percentage are repeat offenders.
Rosand estimates Roseville police will respond to about 1,200 alarms by the end of 2010.
This year, residents were granted three free alarms, then were charged $100, $135, $170 and $205 for the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh offenses.
In 2011, repeat offenders will be charged $100 on the third alarm, and the fees will increase by $100 each thereafter, up to a cap of $500, said Bill Malinen, city manager.
According to a report of nine neighboring cities, compiled by Rosand, six others begin charging repeat alarm offenders on the third call, with fees ranging from $25 to $200. Roseville's new cap is third highest among the other cities, which range from $50 to $900.
Malinen said the ordinance amendment and the new fees schedule for alarm costs each passed with a 3-1 vote.
