During the period from 2005 to 2010, Mercer Island Police Officers and Firefighters responded to an average of 135 alarms per month. Of the alarms responded to, only two and one half percent were found to be valid. Each alarm response draws from limited resources, and poses increased risks to the community when emergency vehicles are responding.

Title 8.10 of the Mercer Island City Code is intended to encourage alarm users and alarm businesses to maintain the operational reliability and to properly use alarm systems to reduce or eliminate false alarms.

• Alarm registration with the Police Department.
• Maintenance requirements by the alarm user.
• Alarm verification by the alarm business.
• Fines and penalties for multiple false alarms.

An alarm dispatch request to the Police or Fire Department where the responding personnel find no evidence of a criminal or attempted criminal offense; or risk from fire, heat, water, or smoke.

• Make sure that everyone in your home or business has manually operated the alarm system and understands what to do if anyone accidentally sets it off.
• Before turning on your burglar alarm system, make sure that all doors and windows are closed and locked.
• Make sure that rooms with motion sensors are free of pets, air currents, party decorations, or anything else that can accidentally activate the alarm.
• Notify workers on the premises of the existence of an alarm system and/or take precautions so they will not activate the alarm.
• Have an alarm company inspect your system after two false alarms within a six-month period.

Questions or Information

For answers to alarm questions, or general alarm information, please call Lauri Bailey in the Police Records Department at 206-275-7610.

Alarm Info Form.pdf (5.5KB)   Complete this form and mail it in to register your alarm.

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