The Beaumont Police Department responds to thousands of residential and commercial alarm activations every year. Only a handful of these are valid. While responding to these calls officers are not available to respond to other calls for service, some of which may be of a priority nature.
False alarms cause a reduction in manpower and unnecessary cost to the City of Beaumont. These false alarms are generally the result of operator or system error.
Effective March 1, 2020, the Beaumont Police Department will begin enforcing residential and commercial alarm permits and false alarm activations. City of Beaumont Municipal Code, 8.36.140 requires that each subscriber obtain a permit for his/her alarm system. The subscriber must submit an application form and an annual fee of $21.00 to the City of Beaumont within 10 days of installation of a new alarm or activation of an existing alarm. This permit application will be placed on file with the Beaumont Police Department and must be renewed on an annual basis. You can obtain an application in person from the City or via the City Website.
If an alarm user fails to obtain a license such user shall be cited under Section 8.36.140 for each false alarm until such time as the permit is obtained.
If your alarm system has two or more false alarms within a consecutive 365-day period you will be subject to fines and/or placed on a "No Response List", per B.M.C. 8.36.095 and 8.36.100.
The Beaumont Police Department makes every effort to provide the best possible law enforcement service to all segments of our community. Reducing the number of false alarms will help to achieve this end.
If you have not done so already, please be sure to file an alarm permit with the City of Beaumont and be sure to have your alarms serviced or tested to avoid receiving a citation for not being in compliance of BMC 8.36 Alarm Systems.
Ways to Reduce False Alarms
1. Be familiar with your alarm system.
2. Keep contact information with your alarm provider current.
3. Make sure to cancel false alarms with your alarm company to prevent Police being dispatched.
4. Know your pass code.
5. Make sure the battery system is charged and working properly and/or have your alarm regularly serviced.
6. Common reasons for false alarms include accidentally hitting key fob, leaving doors open, Pets setting off motion detectors, etc.