SAGINAW, Mich. --
False alarms are costing public safety departments big bucks, but now one city is trying to crackdown on the issue to save money and resources.
Effective Feb. 14, 2011, residents and businesses in the city of Saginaw that have alarm systems will be required to once again register their burglar alarm systems, even if they have previously registered their systems with the city of Saginaw.
The city said there is no specific deadline to register, but stress the sooner registrations take place, the better.
Under an ordinance recently passed by the Saginaw City Council, all systems must be registered and false alarm activations for individual residences and business will be more accurately tracked and monitored.
Saginaw has approximately 900 registered alarm sites within the city, and police responds to roughly 4,300 alarm activations per year, with 95 percent being classified as “false alarm activations.”
The city said false alarm activations are very costly to every resident due to the need to respond to each with, in many cases, multiple personnel or equipment.
Under the recently passed city ordinance, alarm registration fees were established, as well as penalties for repetitive false alarm activations, which the city anticipates will serve to substantially reduce the number of false alarms that the police and fire departments are required to investigate.
To administer the program, the city said it has contracted with ATB Services, based on their experience and expertise in operating false alarm reduction programs across the country.
ATB will be sending initial registration invoices to those residents and businesses that have already been identified as having burglar alarm systems.
Residents and businesses that have a working burglar alarm system should register on-line at
by completing the User Registration Form.
Inquiries and questions can be directed to ATB by calling 1-877-356-7607 between 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The overall goal of these efforts is targeted at reducing the large number of false alarms received annually by the Police and Fire departments, thereby allowing these resources to be utilized for other public safety purposes.
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