Residential and Commercial Alarms and Security Camera Systems

Mercer Island Police Officers and Firefighters responded to an average of 800 alarms per year over the past five years. Of the alarms responded to, only a small fraction were found to be valid. Each alarm response draws from limited resources and poses increased risks to the community when emergency vehicles are responding.

What is a False Alarm?

An alarm dispatch request is deemed a false alarm when the Police or Fire Department respond and find no evidence of a criminal or attempted criminal offense; or risk from fire, heat, water, or smoke.

False Alarm Ordinance

Mercer Island City Code Chapter 8.10 encourages residents and business with alarms to register with the City and sets forth an enforcement process and fines for reducing false alarm dispatches. 

Alarm and Security Camera Voluntary Registration

Residents and businesses who register their alarm with the City have the option of listing an emergency contact person and phone number.  This will allow officers to make contact with a responsible party in the event the homeowner is not home or is not available to respond to an alarm or suspected breach of the alarm system. 

In addition, the City is offering voluntary security camera registration for residents.  Security camera footage can be the key to solving crimes in our community.  When a crime occurs in a neighborhood, there is no quick way to determine if a home in the same area has a surveillance camera which may have recorded the incident and/or suspect(s).  Therefore, residents are encouraged to register their security camera(s) with the City.  In the event a crime occurs, MIPD Detectives will be able to access the Security Camera database quickly to determine if there are any active security camera systems in the area surrounding the crime scene.  If it is determined a camera system in the area may have captured important footage, the detective will contact the resident(s) and request permission to view the footage from their security camera.
 
Click here to fill out the Alarm and Security Camera Registration Form. 

Warnings and Fines

An alarm user shall be subject to the following warning or fines, depending on the number of false alarm dispatches emitted from an alarm system within a calendar year:

• 1st false alarm dispatch: warning letter only
• 2nd false alarm dispatch: $75.00 fine
• 3rd false alarm dispatch: $100.00 fine
• 4th false alarm dispatch: $125.00 fine
• 5th or more false alarm dispatches: $150.00 fine

False Alarm Prevention

• Make sure that everyone in your home or business has manually operated the alarm system and understands what to do if anyone accidentally sets it off.
• Before turning on your burglar alarm system, make sure that all doors and windows are closed and locked.
• Make sure that rooms with motion sensors are free of pets, air currents, party decorations, or anything else that can accidentally activate the alarm.
• Notify workers on the premises of the existence of an alarm system and/or take precautions so they will not activate the alarm.
• Have an alarm technician inspect your system after a false alarm which appears to be a result of a mechanical or technical malfunction.
• All police/fire and medical calls for service are dispatched through NORCOM. Provide your alarm monitoring service NORCOM’s number (425-577-5656) to report activations of alarms.

Questions or Information

For answers to alarm questions, to register your alarm, or for general alarm related questions, please call the Alarms Administrator at 206-275-7610.