Suffolk votes to lower false alarm fees for security system owners

Suffolk lawmakers approved a measure Tuesday to lower its false alarm fees for security system owners by 50 percent. Legislator Kara Hahn sponsored the bill after receiving many complaints from residents

News 12 Staff

Nov 23, 2016, 8:18 AM

Updated 2,880 days ago

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Suffolk lawmakers approved a measure Tuesday to lower its false alarm fees for security system owners by 50 percent.
Legislator Kara Hahn sponsored the bill after receiving many complaints from residents about high fees. The measure passed 10-6.
Residents with security systems will pay $50 every two years instead of an annual payment.
Suffolk began charging for false alarms in April and required those with security systems to register with the county. The fees were $100 for commercial alarms and $50 for residential alarms.
Legislator Kate Browning proposed a bill that would get rid of the registration fee for the alarm system altogether, but lawmakers tabled that bill.
Chief Stuart Cameron says the Suffolk County Police Department supports a reduction in fees as long as the program stays in place. He says it works to reduce false alarms, which have dropped by 33 percent in the last month.
The bill will head to County Executive Steve Bellone for his signature. Hahn says he's expected to sign it.