Seattle false alarm

Seattle Police Headquarters public service counter will reopen for Limited In-Person Services - available by appointment only. Our precinct facilities remain closed at this time. Find out more on our closure information page. A false alarm is defined in Seattle Municipal Code 6.

The City of Seattle charges alarms companies for every false alarm. Alarm companies may pass this fee onto their customers. The City of Seattle updated its false alarm fees for to bring them in line with actual expenditures. The fee is used to recover the costs of running the False Alarm Unit and sending officers to false alarms. The fees are imposed when an officer responds to and arrives at a location where an alarm is determined to be false.

The City of Seattle bills the alarm company for the false alarm. To recover the cost of a false alarm fee, the alarm companies commonly pass this fee onto the subscribers. Alarm company customers that disagree with their billing should dispute this with their alarm company. Alarm companies have an option to obtain a one-time waiver from the City of Seattle, including switching to Private Guard response.

Effective January 1, , if a company cannot provide a UIN to the call-taker, the call will not be accepted or dispatched. It is not the responsibility of the subscriber to register their alarm system with the City of Seattle. Further, it will have a positive effect on the overall goal of reducing false alarm dispatches and providing cost recovery for the city. There is no rationale to support enforcing the law with one segment of the industry while providing the same benefits to members of the industry who are not in compliance.

Enhanced Call Verification ECV is an attempt to verify whether or not an alarm is false or if there is criminal activity, making it valid. The verification is performed when the alarm company makes a minimum of two calls in an attempt to contact someone associated with the alarm address to verify if police response is needed.

Activated alarms, such as panic, hold-up, or duress alarms, do not require ECV. Please enable JavaScript in your browser for a better user experience. Apply for Jump to subpage Nation-wide, law enforcement agencies, alarm users, and the alarm industry are working hand-in-hand to reduce the incidence of false alarms.

SeaTac Police Services is very aware of the cost to law enforcement from high rates of false alarms. Responding to false alarms diverts precious police resources from actual criminal and emergency responses. While well-known names like ADT and Frontpoint may be the first security brands that come to mind on your hunt for Seattle security systems, there are plenty of local providers worth considering.

Our top picks for Seattle and Tacoma alarm systems run the gamut from affordable starter packages to monitoring options that let you use existing security systems. Great Western Security treats customers like family. From condos to gated communities, Great Western tackles it all. Great Western Security partners with Monitronics, an award-winning monitoring service with Five Diamond Certification. The Bottom Line : Whether the job is large or small, Great Western Security partners with homeowners and renters to provide reliable home security in the greater Seattle area.

Washington Alarm relies on three-year contracts for home security, but they offer free installation and six residential security bundles with affordable pricing. Packages scale up from there with options for fire, video surveillance, and smart home automation.

Customer service on the phone was courteous and prompt, but Washington Alarm could benefit from more transparency online regrading prices and monitoring fees.

This Seattle-based company throws a unique spin on neighborhood watch programs. In addition to its crime prevention groups sponsored by the Seattle police department , Blockwatch Alarm applies a community policing approach to alarm monitoring.

Using your existing equipment, you can sign up for monitoring that pushes system notifications to five trusted friends, family, or neighbors who can verify the alarm and notify the police. Blockwatch Alarm installs security systems in Western Washington and the Seattle area. Despite being monitored by the community, your security system will still be eligible for discounts on homeowners insurance.

The Bottom Line: BlockWatch Alarm is an affordable way to use your existing equipment and self-monitor your home with the help of community policing groups. Our top picks are the cream of the crop but there are a few other Seattle alarm companies that may fit your needs:.

Protective Systems has an established reputation of nearly 50 years providing security systems to Seattle and one of the least expensive monthly monitoring rates. But its customer service, which automatically forwards to a national hotline and a voicemail inbox, leaves much to be desired. Another Seattle provider to consider is Xfinity , whose services in the Seattle area extend into the home security market.

Visit Website. National brands like ADT and Brinks certainly have advantages. If lots of package options and integrated smart home automation devices are your priority, going with a national security company like ADT makes sense. Local home security companies have a leg up on understanding and designing custom security solutions according to Seattle-specific crime challenges. And they often offer a more personalized approach to customer service. Make the best decision for your family by reviewing specifics about Seattle crime rates, environmental factors, and false alarms before you purchase a security system.

While violent crime in Seattle is relatively low compared to other cities across the nation, property crime is still a significant problem with a stark divide in rates depending on neighborhood.

To deter porch pirates , you may want to install a doorbell security camera in your Seattle home. You can learn more about local crime rates by consulting our guide to the safest cities in Washington. So you may want to install flood sensors, particularly if you have a basement. The city of Seattle established a false alarm program in which significantly reduced the burden of response on the Seattle police department.

If your security system generates a false alarm, the city will work with your alarm company directly to recuperate its costs. In order to avoid expensive false alarm fees, most monitoring services in Seattle have verified alarm protocols that rely on video footage or local security response teams. Before you purchase a security system in Seattle, carefully evaluate the specifics of your neighborhood and your household to decide which security solutions are the right fit.