Kokua Line
Kokua Line
Question: For three consecutive nights this month, residents in Halawa Heights have been awakened in the early morning hours by what seems to be a burglar alarm gone awry. Police must have been called because it does go off after 30-45 minutes. Why does it take so long to get it shut off, and who is to be held accountable for these disturbances? If it is indeed the same alarm, do the owners get cited for disturbing the peace? What should people do when these things keep happening over and over again? Burglar alarms gone awry
steal a good night’s sleepAnswer: There is no penalty now for an errant burglar alarm in a home or business disturbing the neighborhood peace, although there is a city ordinance that deals specifically with car alarms.
However, the city appears on its way to setting up a system to at least have some control over the alarmingly high number of false alarms -- a problem that is faced nationwide.
In Honolulu alone there were 33,000 false alarms last year, according to Honolulu police Capt. Debbie Tandal of HPD's Informational Resources Section. That meant police needlessly responded thousands of times, tying up valuable time and personnel, she said.
But, first, to answer your questions: Call 911 if you hear an alarm, and "officers will be sent to check the residence (or business)," Tandal said.
When an alarm goes off for as long as you described, the problem probably is a common one: Police are unable to immediately contact the owners. In that case, "it's hard for us to do anything," Tandal said.
However, Bill 83 now before the City Council -- introduced by Councilman John Henry Felix at the request of HPD -- would set up a registration and permitting system for all alarm owners. It is scheduled for final reading on Dec. 12. If it passes the Council and is signed into law by the mayor, it would take effect 120 days after signing. Tandal said there's a "good chance" it will become law.
Failure to register would lead to a $100 fine.
Owners would be allowed three false alarms a year, which is more than the national average of 2.6 false alarms per system per year, Tandal said.
Owners will be assessed a $50 "service charge" -- not a "fine" -- for each false alarm after three, although they will be given the opportunity to waive that charge for the fourth false alarm if they go to educational classes conducted by both HPD and the alarm companies.
Tandal noted that the majority of false alarms are the result of "user error."
"People don't know how to use the system -- they aren't trained properly," she said. Another common problem is a defect in a system, "and there is no incentive for them (owners) to fix it," she said. "A majority of (false alarms) are preventable."
In the meantime, patrol officers have been leaving behind brochures whenever they respond to a false alarm, said HPD spokeswoman Michelle Yu. The brochure lets the home or business owner know there was a false alarm, advises them to alert their alarm company of the problem and gives them tips on preventing further problems, she said.
Auwe
Returning to our cars at Aloha Stadium after an exciting UH football game on Nov. 17, a thief put a damper on our spirits by stealing our Weber grill. In the 20-plus years we have attended UH games at the stadium, this has never happened. Where's the aloha spirit? To the person who stole it: May the food you cook on our grill always burn! -- Gate 6 Tailgater
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