Frequently Asked Questions
The Corpus Christi Police Department responds to over 17,306 alarms each year, out of which 98.11% of those calls were false and the majority did not have a valid permit. The Corpus Christi Police Department spent over 1,000 police hours each year responding to false alarms. In other words, one officer would have to devote every minute of their available time for a year to be able to respond to all of the false alarm calls.
Are you operating under the false assumption that false alarms are just another "cost of doing business"?
Do you think every commercial institution and residence is always entitled to an unlimited police response for false alarms?
Are you at risk when police are used to responding to chronic false alarms and a real emergency happens at your location?
The reality is that police resources are limited and should never be wasted. Thousands of police patrol hours are spent investigating alarm reports that turn out to be “False Alarms.”
Alarm companies and alarm users must be responsible for the use and maintenance of alarm systems to help ensure prompt police response when an emergency really does exist.
Before activating your system . . .
Lock all protected doors and windows.
Keep pets, balloons, fans, heaters, plants, curtains, seasonal decorations, etc. away from motion sensor areas.
Know how to cancel the alarm if the system activates.
Educate alarm system users . . .
- All users, key holders or any person with legal access to your property must be thoroughly trained in how to operate your system, including knowledge of correct arming codes, pass codes, telephone numbers and procedures for canceling accidental alarm activations.
Have your security company check and service your system regularly, routine maintenance can help prevent many false alarms.
Notify your security company if . . .
- You think, your system isn’t working properly.
- You plan any remodeling, including replacing doors or windows, hanging drywall, sanding floors, installing attic flooring or basement ceiling, changing phone systems, installing intercoms, siding, ceiling fans or skylights, fumigating, installing wiring or cable or other electronics, installing anything near the system control panel or keypads.
- If you hire help for your residence or business, get a new pet, plan to sell your house, or are testing your system.
Contact your jurisdiction’s alarm coordinator if you have a phone service or name change, or if situations change, such as a disabled person now residing at the residence, etc.
Your central monitoring station should not request a police dispatch for power outages, low battery signals or loss of telephone connections.
Replace monitoring equipment with newer, high security monitoring technology. Dirty or wet phone lines, telephone repairmen and service interruptions do not require police response.
Upgrade old alarm systems to current equipment conforming to Security Industry Association (SIA) false alarm prevention standards, further reducing false alarms.
False alarms are costly and dangerous because they divert police officers from proactive crime prevention efforts. They also delay response to calls that may be true emergencies.
- Are a nuisance to you and your neighbors.
- Make your security system less reliable.
- Make you reluctant to use your system.
The three Major Causes of False Alarms are:
- User errors.
- Installation or service errors.
- Equipment failures.
Other reasons for false alarms
- Inadequate training of people allowed access to your security system - children, neighbors, cleaning personnel, real estate agents, guests, relatives, babysitters, service and delivery personnel, etc.
- Weak system batteries.
- Open, unlocked or loose fitting doors and windows.
- Drafts from heaters and air conditioning systems that move plants, curtains, balloons, etc.
- Wandering pets.
Everyone operating an alarm system inside the city limits is required to register their alarm system.
No, you will never be charged for an alarm activation that is not false. This ordinance allows charges for false alarms only.
CORPUS CHRISTI ALARM PERMITS
P.O. BOX 33940
SAN ANTONIO, TX 78265
Any permit holder aggrieved by the decision to assess a service fee by the chief of police or his designated representative as provided for in section 3.5-6, may appeal the decision to the City manager by filing with the City manager a written request for a hearing, setting forth the reasons for the appeal within ten (10) days after the chief of police, or his designee, renders the decision. The filing of a request for an appeal hearing with the City manager stays an action of the chief of police in assessing a service fee until the City manager, or designee, makes a final decision. If a request for an appeal hearing is not made within the ten-day period, the action of the chief of police, or designee, is final.
If the chief of police refuses to issue or revokes a permit, the chief of police shall send to the applicant or permit holder by certified mail, return receipt requested, written notice of his action and a statement of the right to an appeal. The applicant or permit holder may appeal the decision of the chief of police, or designee, to the City manager by filing with the City manager a written request for a hearing, setting forth the reasons for the appeal, within ten (10) days after receipt of the notice from the chief of police, or designee. The filing of a request for an appeal hearing with the City manager, or designee, stays an action of the chief of police in revoking a permit until the City manager, or designee, makes a final decision. If a request for an appeal hearing is not made within the ten-day period, the action of the chief of police is final.
The City manager, or designee, shall serve as hearing officer at an appeal and consider evidence by any interested person. The formal rules of evidence do not apply at an appeal hearing; the hearing officer shall make his decision on the basis of a preponderance of the evidence presented at the hearing. The hearing officer must render a decision within thirty (30) days after the request for an appeal hearing is filed. The hearing officer shall affirm, reverse, or modify the action of the chief of police. The decision of the hearing officer is final as to administrative remedies with the City.
Please email with the date of cancellation and alarm company of record - we will reply within 24 hours when the permit is inactivated.