In 2004 the City implemented a new alarm ordinance increasing the responsibility on the alarm company/monitoring center. The first two years have produced a 36% decrease in the number of dispatched alarm calls. While this is a good start, alarm calls are still the 5th most frequent call for police service and associated costs of alarm response are annually over 1 million dollars. While this ordinance has been successful it still has not impacted the ratio of false alarm to valid alarms, which has been 98% false, consistent for the last 30 years.

Seattle's False Alarm Ordinance became effective January 1, 2004. This ordinance affects intrusion alarms (burglar alarms) on residential and commercial property. This includes heat and smoke detectors that are a part of a burglar alarm system.

In November 2005 amendments were made to the ordinance changing the original price structure. The new fees are:

• $10 per annum alarms device fee for each monitored alarm system.
• $90 per false alarm occurrence.
• All license fees and false alarm fees will be billed to your alarm company and/or monitoring center. These fees may be passed on to the alarm owner. The alarm company may add additional administrative fees.
• Neither the City of Seattle nor the Police Department have any control over what the alarm companies charge their customers to recover their false alarm costs.
• Owners will now use their alarm company and/or monitoring center as the primary contact.
• It is the responsibility of the alarm company to represent their customer in any false alarm and/or billing issue.
• Alarm owners are entitled to one false alarm fee waiver per premise address. Attendance at an Alarm User Workshop or switching to private guard response is required to obtain the waiver fee. Request the waiver through your alarm company and/or monitoring center.
• If you have a false alarm and later discover that an actual crime occurred, call 911. A valid police report is necessary to waive the false alarm fee. Notify your alarm company-and/or monitoring center and provide them with the incident number of the police report. They will submit that information to the city and the fee will be waived administratively.
• No Response Status: A premise (residential or commercial) with 6 false alarms in a 12-month period may be placed on a suspended status. An administrative hearing is required to contest this status. Your alarm company is required to attend the hearing with you to contest the no response status. A premise placed on No Response Status will remain so for 1 year.

It's that time of year again.

School has started and the Seattle Police Department would like to remind drivers, pedestrians, and students to be extra cautious before, during, and after school hours. Here are a few tips for students:

• Pay special attention to all traffic signals and crossing guards
• Never cross the street against a red light, even if you don't see any traffic coming
• Wear reflective clothing and bright colors so drivers can see you easier
• Plan a safe walking route to school or the bus stop. Choose the most direct way with the fewest street crossings and if possible, with intersections that have traffic control lights
• Try to arrive early for buses, stay out of the street, and wait for the bus to come to a complete stop before approaching the street

• Be watchful around schools and bus stops for children running into the street
• Watch for children entering the street near buses and between cars
• When driving your children to school, drop them off and pick them up as close to the school as possible. Don't leave until they are safely on school grounds.
• Drive slowly when approaching children riding bicycles and walking near the street
• When driving near children and school zones, expect the unexpected
• Watch your speed when entering school zones (School zone speed violations are $189.00)

Bus Safety Tips

Waiting for the Bus

• Use the bus schedule to minimize the length of time waiting for the bus.
• Plan your route to use the busiest, best-lighted stop possible, both to get on and off a bus or subway. If you must wait, stay near the attendant's stand or in the best-lighted area available.
• Be sure to have your fare out and ready before you leave home, office, or store.

• If few people are on the bus, sit near the driver.
• Keep your purse, shopping bag, backpack, packages, etc., in your lap, on your arm, or between your feet -- not by themselves on an empty seat.
• Don't let yourself doze off on a bus, it can make you an easy target.
• If someone is bothering you on the bus, tell the driver.
• If you feel uneasy about getting off at your usual stop, stay on the bus until the next stop.

Bike Safety Tips

As of August 17, 2003 the King County Helmet Regulation mandates:

• Helmet use by persons of all ages in all parts of the County, including the City of Seattle.
• Helmets meet current U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) or Snell safety standards.
• Helmets be fastened while riding.