# Is there some reason homeowners and businesses shouldn't have to pay for false alarms **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 5, 2003, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-some-reason-homeowners-and-businesses-shouldnt-have-to-pay-for-false-alarms/166588 "2003-04-05T00:34:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Skarlett244](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/58956e/32.png) [@Skarlett244](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skarlett244)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2003, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-some-reason-homeowners-and-businesses-shouldnt-have-to-pay-for-false-alarms/166588/1 "2003-04-05T00:34:44Z")
Our city is cutting back on answering automatic alarms because of so many false alarms. They say it took a million dollars out of the budget last year and 90% were false. So, why not just charge for each alarm? They have half-way measures like charging for the 3rd one in 30 days, but that’s not enough. So they are cutting back on answering! I forget the plan but it’s like they won’t come out during the day without a confirming phone call. But from whom? If I was at home and could call I wouldn’t need the alarm. Do homeowner have a _right_ to make the city pay for false alarms? Why? ---
**Author:** ![Osip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4491bb/32.png) [@Osip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Osip)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2003, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-some-reason-homeowners-and-businesses-shouldnt-have-to-pay-for-false-alarms/166588/2 "2003-04-05T00:38:18Z")
Who knows they might. Here if a compnay has 3 false alarms they start paying fines and it gets bigger each time. For habitual offenders they even make them take classes. Seems to work out pretty well around here.