KINGSTON – A resolution calling only
for a public hearing on a proposed local law aimed at reducing false emergency
alarms generated 20 minutes of debate among Ulster County legislators,
who eventually approved the hearing, by a narrow margin.
Democrat Tracey Bartels argued the “False Alarm Reduction Act”
is not ready for prime time. In particular, Bartels objected to overreaching
penalties for incidents that may not be entirely within the control of
a home or business owner.
“I realize that even if you are a repeat offender, there needs to
be some kind of fine and maybe we can argue about some kind of penalty,
but, I have a problem with telling, again, a business or a home owner
that they can no longer have an alarm system.”
Democrat Donald Gregorius agreed, saying the proposal, as it stands, counts
all alarms, even when beyond the control of anyone. That could include
alarms triggered by natural incidents such as storms, falling tree limbs
or serious accidents.
Republican Carl Belfiglio argued the law specifically targets property
owners who don’t take simple steps to reduce the chance of a false
alarm that results in a police response.
“It is a problem if it is habitual and no one is there to stop the
alarm company from calling the police and the police show up at the door.
That includes business and homeowners, and it has to stop.”
Belfiglio said the solution could be to arranging with a neighbor to be
on the police contact list if an alarm goes off.
An attempt to refer the measure back to the Law Enforcement Committee
failed, narrowly.
The resolution setting a public hearing prior to the next monthly meeting
on September 25 passed on a 13 to 10 vote.
