Alarm System

HI,
I AM RELATIVELY NEW TO GARDEN CITY SOUTH, WE MOVED HERE ON FEB.1, 2007. AT THAT TIME I NEEDED TO HAVE AN ALARM SYSTEM PUT IN AS I AM HANDICAPPED AND MAY NEED ASSISTANCE AT ANY TIME. AT THAT TIME I CALLED THE TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD AND ASKED IF I NEEDED A PERMIT, TO WHICH I WAS TOLD NO. JUST LAST WEEK I RECEIVED A FINE OF $75 BECAUSE I DID NOT HAVE A PERMIT FOR MY ALARM SYSTEM. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IS HOW IS SOMEONE TO KNOW WHEN THIS LAW WAS PAST THAT SAID YOU NOW NEED A PERMIT FOR YOUR ALARM SYSTEM. I DID NOT RECEIVE ANY NOTICE OF THIS INFORMATION, IF I HAD, I WOULD HAVE APPLIED FOR A PERMIT, AVOIDING A FINE OF $75.
WHEN A POLICE OFFICER CAME TO MY HOUSE BECAUSE OF SPRAY PAINTING ON MY FENCE. HE TOLD ME THAT THE LAW IS ONLY ABOUT A YEAR OLD. CAN I HAVE AN ANSWER AS TO WHY I WAS NOT NOTIFIED ABOUT THE LAW BEFORE I WAS FINED?



Nassau County Police are requested to respond to over 125,000 false alarms each year. Alarm legislation was adopted in 1991 because of concerns over police officer safety and to eliminate the misuse of police resources, which results in a cost of millions of dollars annually.
Alarm legislation mandates alarm permits are required for all alarm systems. The Police Department shall issue an alarm permit to an applicant upon receipt of a completed permit application form and a non-refundable permit fee of:

New Permit seventy-five dollars (75.00) for residential premises
one hundred dollars (100.00) for commercial premises
Renewal Permit sixty dollars (60.00) for a residential premises
eighty dollars (80.00) for commercial premises

It shall be the responsibility of the alarm system installer at the time of the installation or activation to submit an alarm permit application form along with the required fees to the Police Department on behalf of and at the expense of the user, unless installer has confirmed that the user already holds a permit. It shall be the responsibility of the alarm company that monitors the alarm system to ensure, prior to commencing any such service contract that there is a current alarm permit. Upon request by the alarm installation and/ or monitoring company the Nassau County Police Department shall provide them with a valid permit number.

Permit holders are to immediately notify their alarm company of their permit number when they are received by the Police Department. Alarm companies must use this number when dispatching for an alarm.

Permits are to be renewed every three (3) years from date of issuance. The holder of the permit or the person in control of an alarm system shall be subject to suspension and/or revocation and/or will have the location placed into a No Police Response Mode if false alarms to that location exceed five (5) in a 90 day period.
For further information regarding alarm permits or false alarm reduction, please contact the Alarm Permit Section at 516 573-7298 or 516 573-7862.