Things You'll Need:
- user manual for your specific system
- Alarm permit if required by your municipality
-
Step 1
Know the rules; each city or municipality has their own rules governing alarm systems. Some cities require the purchase of an alarm permit, some police departments charge more if dispatched on a non permitted alarm.
Go to your City's website to check if your city requires an alarm permit. I live in Los Angeles so I have inserted an image of the LA City Alarm Permit -
Step 2
If you do not require a permit go to step 5
If you do need a permit got to step 3
If you already have a permit go to step 4 -
Step 3
If your city requires you to purchase a permit, buy one. Most cities that require a permit will add additional fines for dispatches to an address with no valid permit. (link to LA City alarm permit form)http://www.lacity.org/finance/pdf/alarmapp.pdf
-
Step 4
Once you have the permit make sure your monitoring station or alarm company has your permit number, as they will need that to when they dispatch.
Most time the Police will consider an address non permitted if the central station does not provide the permit number at time of dispatch. -
Step 5
Instruct you alarm company to use Enhanced call verification (ECV).
They will then call the alarm premises, plus 2 phone numbers of your choice before they dispatch.
This has reduced false dispatches by up to 60% in some cities -
Step 6
Read the user manual.
Make sure every one who might use the system knows how to operate it, and their code works
Make sure these same people have the correct password to cancel a dispatch
Make sure all pets are not where there are motion detectors (or use the stay function to turn off the motion detectors)
Make sure all doors and windows are closed securely before arming the system
I know this stuff seems simple but over 70% of fines are for user error.
