Alarm Ordinance

False Alarm Procedures – Effective January 25, 2005:

1. An alarm report will be taken at every location and incident where a Richland County Sheriff’s Department resource is committed and no foul play occurred.

2. Locations are suspended every Tuesday and Thursday and reinstated every Tuesday.

The only exception is when a location has excessive false alarms between Tuesdays. This is when an officer on the road advises the alarm administrator that a location is a nuisance; the alarm administrator can suspended that location immediately. If the location is identified as a problem, notification is made to dispatch and the regional officers are responsible for leaving a written message to the suspension.

3. After the 2nd false alarm at a specific location:

A certified letter is mailed to the location notifying of the false alarms and of procedures and the ordinance. To include that they need to contact their alarm company and a second call verification system it is strongly suggested at this point and that the alarm company will be required to advise RCSD that this process has been installed upon the 4th false alarm suspension.

4. After the 4th false alarm at a specific location:

A certified letter is mailed to the location notifying them of the false alarms and of the ordinance and that this location is being suspended from response. The letter states what needs to be done in order to be returned to response list:

The alarm system must be serviced and checked.
The alarm users must be educated by the alarm company on the proper use of the system.
The alarm company must put a second call verification procedure in place.
The alarm company must notify RCSD by certified mail that these items have been completed and who the local alarm company manager (who is responsible for that particular location) is.

5. After the 5th false alarm at a specific location:

The location receives a certified letter stating that they are being removed from our response list and that they have to complete the following steps before they will be reinstated:

The alarm system must be serviced and checked.
The users must be educated by the alarm company on the proper operation.
A free security analysis of their property must be completed by the Richland County Sheriff’s Department Community Action Team.
The alarm company must advise RCSD that a 2nd call verification system has been implemented.
The alarm company must advise RCSD that these items have been completed via certified mail.

6. After the 8th false alarm at a specific location: The location receives a hand delivered letter advising them of permanent suspension, a list of all alarms received and a citation and court date.

7. Any location that does not comply with the standard operating procedure of the department’s policy will be carried over at the end of the calendar year and their account will not be zeroed at the end of the year.

8. Any monitoring company and resident or business that does not comply with the 2nd Call Verification System will receive certified advising them that failing to implement an enhanced call verification system and comply with our requirements will result in suspension of alarm response.

9. Any company that fails to provide RCSD with written documentation in letter form that compliance with the policies and procedures have been complied with, that location will be suspended from alarm response and receive a certified letter stating our requirements.

If you need further information, please contact:

Rosalind Williams
5623 Two Notch Rd
Columbia SC, 29223
email: rwilliams@rcsd.net