The Vallejo (Calif.) Times-Herald reports that the false alarms have so troubled the city police department that the city council is now considering adjusting the false alarm fine system.

The newspaper commented on a police department report that credited some 6,500 false burglar alarms, equaling an unheard of $650,000 in cost.

The city started its process of strengthening the false alarm ordinance in September 2006 and has created a tougher ordinance which would require a $25 permit, and which would start with fines on the second false alarm, and which could increase up to a cost of $300.

The ordinance is modeled after one in Vacaville, Calif., and will be voted on Tuesday night (Nov. 28, 2006).