Councillor Takes Issue With Fine For False Alarms
Posted November 29, 2010 7:16 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
An Etobicoke councillor wants to pull the plug on a policy that can cost homeowners a lot of money if their home security system malfunctions.
After his alarm went off without warning and fire crews arrived at his home, 86-year-old Art Ludlam was charged a $1,050 penalty – $350 for each of the three trucks routinely dispatched.
It was only the first malfunction in the 15 years he has had a system.
“It’s unfair to charge for a malfunction we can’t control,” Ludlam said.
But officials say the fine is necessary.
“The reason for the bylaw is to reduce false alarms,” said Chief Frank Lamie.
“There’s an opportunity to get reimbursement for up to 90 per cent of the money you’ve spent to upgrade your alarm system so you don’t get false alarms.”
City council passed the bylaw last February on the advice of Toronto Fire Services – a body with a projected annual revenue of $6.5 million.
“This has just turned into a cash grab,” said Councillor Gloria Lindsay Luby. “Totally, totally unacceptable.”
Luby plans to introduce a motion next year to change the bylaw to allow homeowners one false alarm without being fined.
