Paying more and getting less (cont'd)
The Chronicle's Robert Crowe reports that the city is considering ways to cut down on false alarms from burglar alarms:
Hoping to curb a growing problem with false alarms, city officials are considering an increase in burglar-alarm fees and fines.
Houston police say false calls cost the city $9 million a year. That's $5 million more than what the city generates in burglar-alarm permit fees and fines each year, HPD Capt. Dwayne Ready said.
"We're really trying to look at how to reduce the number of (false) calls because it's so high," Ready said.
Under the city's current ordinance, residents and businesses are not charged for the first five false burglar alarms. The city charges the owner $50 for each subsequent false alarm.
The proposed revisions would limit properties to three free false alarms.
The fourth and fifth false alarms would cost $50. The sixth and seventh would cost $75, and any more would cost $100 each.
It makes sense for the city to try to cut down on false alarms, and in a way that puts the cost on those who cause false alarms.
Of course, it's the White Administration, so a chance to boost the revenue potential comes into play:
The city also is considering a plan to boost the annual residential permit fee to $30 from $15. Commercial permit fees would increase to $70 from $40 a year.
That would be a 100% increase in the alarm permit fee. In the name of public safety, of course (and not revenue enhancement).
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 06/13/07 09:08 PM | Houston Miscellany | Print | Comments (7)
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