Alarms
The Itasca County Sheriff’s Office responds to many false alarms each year. A level which, places intolerable burdens upon the time and resources of the Sheriff’s Office. False alarms also create an increased level of risks on the safety of responding officers and to the public as well. Therefore, the justification of this ordinance is to reduce the high level of risks and expenses by reducing the frequency of occurrence of these false alarms, establish a user fee, and establish a system of administration. This Ordinance shall apply to all types of alarms that require a law enforcement or fire response.
To register your alarm, please fill out the Alarm Application and return it to the Sheriff's Office - Alarm Ordinance, along with the $20 new alarm fee or $10 renewal fee.
DEFINITIONS
False Alarm - means the activation of an alarm system through mechanical failure, malfunction, improper installation, or the negligence of the owner or lessee of an alarm system, or of his employees or agents, to which a police officer has been dispatched, where an emergency situation does not exist. Such terminology does not include alarms caused by hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, lightning, power failure due to damage to power lines, or severe weather conditions.
APPLICATION FOR PERMIT
Application for permits required under this article shall be made to the Sheriff of Itasca County within 90 days of the enacting of this Ordinance on forms provided by the Sheriff’s Office. Each application for a permit shall be accompanied by the correct fee as defined therein.
Each permit shall be valid for a period of one (1) year and shall expire on the last day of the month of December, unless sooner revoked as provided herein. Application for the next ensuing year may be filed with the Sheriff beginning ninety (90) days before the first day of January. You can obtain this application by calling 218-326-3477, 1-800-458-8732, or by coming into the Itasca County Sheriff’s Office.
FEES
Administration Fee - The initial administrative fee shall be $20.00; thereafter, an annual alarm fee shall be assessed in the sum of $10.00.
False Alarm Fee - The owner of property upon which an automatic alarm device is located and/or each owner of an automatic alarm device shall pay a fee of $50.00 to the Itasca County Sheriff’s Office upon said Office’s fourth response to a false alarm plus an additional $25.00 for each one thereafter, with a ceiling of $200.00 in one calendar year.
| 1st False Alarm | N/C | 6th False Alarm | $100 |
| 2nd False Alarm | N/C | 7th False Alarm | $125 |
| 3rd False Alarm | N/C | 8th False Alarm | $150 |
| 4th False Alarm | $50 | 9th False Alarm | $175 |
| 5th False Alarm | $75 | 10th False Alarm | $200 |
Compliance Fee - A $100.00 fee shall be charged to the owner of property upon which an automatic alarm device is located and/or the owner of an automatic alarm device upon the Itasca County Sheriff’s Office’s first response to an automatic alarm when said owners have not complied with the rules and regulations promulgated by said Sheriff’s Office for the administration of this Ordinance.
Fee Payment - The property owner and/or the alarm owner or their agents shall be served with the fee statement by certified mail or by personal service by Sheriff’s Office personnel in accordance with the Rules of Civil Procedure for the District Courts of the State of Minnesota applicable to the service of a summons in a civil action. The County of Itasca is hereby empowered to collect all fees set forth by this Ordinance by all means allowed by law for collection of a debt.
In the event any fee assessed pursuant to this Ordinance is not paid in full within 30 days of billing, the Itasca County Sheriff’s Office shall have the discretion to disconnect and/or not respond to the automatic alarm device owned or operated by the person(s) responsible for the payment of said fee.