How many False Alarms am I allowed per calendar year?
Per City Ordinance a False Alarm means, "An alarm signal actuated by error, mistake, inadvertence, negligence, or unintentional act necessitating response by the public safety personnel, including but not limited to Great Falls Police Department, Great Falls Fire Rescue, and/or ambulance services, including alarms caused by the malfunction of the alarm system, except the following:
- alarms caused by repair of telephone or communication equipment or lines;
- alarms caused by earthquakes, flood, windstorm, thunder, and lightning;
- alarms caused by an attempted illegal entry or analogous causes of which there is visible evidence;
- and alarms caused by power outages.
5.3.6.050 Penalty.
A. Knowingly activating a false alarm when no unauthorized entry, fire or hazardous conditions exist is a violation of the provisions of Mont. Code Ann. 45-7-204, punishable by a fine not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500.00) or imprisonment for a term not to exceed six (6) months, or both.
B. A first or second false alarm during any three hundred sixty-five (365) day period will result in a written notice being provided to the owner, licensee and/or other person responsible for the premises. A third or subsequent false alarm during any three hundred sixty-five (365) day period will result in an assessed administrative fee of one hundred dollars ($100.00) being imposed on the owner, licensee, and/or other person responsible for the premises.
C. Any fee under this article that remains unpaid for thirty (30) days or more is deemed delinquent and may be assessed against the premises as a special charge for current service or, in addition to any penalties listed in this Chapter, the City may refer any outstanding fees, pursuant to this Chapter, to collections by a collection agency authorized to conduct business in Montana.
D. This penalty section shall not be applicable to residential fire alarms in one or two-family
