A proposed Tinley Park ordinance intended to prevent police officers from wasting time responding to false burglary alarms is expected to be voted on by the Village Board on Sept. 15.
Village Trustee Matt Heffernan said 98 percent of the calls from burglary alarms that police responded to last year were false calls. That amounted to about 1,800 false alarms.
Under the proposed ordinance, police would issue a ticket to a homeowner if officers respond to his alarm and find no evidence of criminal activity. There would be no fine for the first four false calls; a $100 fine for between five and seven false calls; a $200 fine for eight to 10; and a $300 fine for 11 or more.
Residents would have 14 days to appeal. Payment would be due within 30 days.
Trustees made it clear they were uncomfortable with a suggested $10 annual fee a homeowner would have to pay for an alarm permit.
“I don’t want to inconvenience a thousand people because we have 10 violators,” Trustee Dave Seaman said.
The current fine for a false alarm is $25, which has proven to be ineffective, according to Police Cmdr. Charles Montgomery.
Most of the problem stems from oversensitive alarms, but they can be corrected, he said.