Longview’s Burglary Alarm Ordinance Changes in 2014

LONGVIEW — An update to the City of Longview�s Burglary and Robbery Alarms ordinance will take effect with the start of the new year. Originally adopted in 2001, the purpose of the ordinance is to encourage alarm users to properly maintain the operational effectiveness of alarm systems, to reduce or eliminate false alarms, and to defray associated costs through permit fees and false alarm charges. The City Council amended the ordinance on December 12, 2013.

The residential alarm permit fee will increase from $10 annually to $50 annually, and the commercial alarm permit fee will increase from $50 to $100 annually. Following changes in state law, the Longview ordinance needed to be restructured regarding incidents of false alarms, In the amended ordinance, a service fee for false alarms may be imposed if at least three false alarms have occurred in the preceding 12-month period. The amount of the fee is $50 for more than three but less than six false alarms, $75 for more than five but less than eight false alarms, and $100 for eight or more false alarms. Previously, a false alarm fee of $100 began after the fifth false alarm.

As has been the case since the ordinance was first instituted in 2001, all residential and commercial alarm customers are required to complete an annual alarm permit application. The permit application may be obtained online at http://www.LongviewPolice.com or at the Longview Police Department, 302 West Cotton Street. For more information, contact the Longview Police Department at 903-237-1199.