False Alarm Reduction Program

False Alarm Reduction Program

Beginning October 1, 2016, residents and business owners in the City of Wheeling must have their burglar alarm systems registered with the Wheeling Police Department as part of the City’s new false alarm ordinance. Failure to do so will result in a fine.

The new program’s purpose is to establish reasonable expectations of alarm users and to ensure users are held responsible. The false alarm ordinance (Section 501.11 in the Codified Ordinances of the City of Wheeling) was passed unanimously by Wheeling City Council on October 6, 2015.

Additional Resources:

• Ordinance
• Alarm Policy
• Media Release

REGISTRATION:

All alarm users in the City of Wheeling MUST REGISTER their alarm systems with Cry Wolf Services – an outside agency that will manage the database and all fines related to false alarm calls.

City of Wheeling residents and business owners can register online by visiting crywolfservices.com/wheelingwv . There is NO FEE to register a burglar alarm system. Failure to register a residential or business alarm will result in a $100 civil penalty. Failure to renew an alarm annually will result in a $25 fee.

Life alert, fire, and car alarms are NOT required to be registered.

Further assistance is available by calling the Wheeling Police Department at 304-234-3708.

IMPLEMENTATION:

Once the false alarm program is enacted and implemented, fees for having a false alarm call are as follows:

Additional Fees

Alarm users can take a class after a second false alarm call in order to have a $50 fee waived. “Alarm School” can be taken online once in a permit year (Jan. 1- Dec. 31) and must pass with a 70-percent grade in order to have the fee waived.

For more information on the City of Wheeling’s False Alarm Program, contact 304-234-3708.