Objects to Middle’s False Alarm Fees

To The Editor:
Nice going, Middle Township. Residents install alarm systems so they can feel safe in their homes and you have to make money off that. Isn’t that the American way? And let’s not do it with township staffing; let’s outsource it to somebody else. That way, next year when ATB Services wants more money (and they will), you can ask us for more money.
I could understand a graduated scale of charges in the case of multiple false alarms to the same address to which the police have to respond. I have the greatest respect for the police and other emergency services and the job they do. If your alarm system is faulty, either you or your security service should fix it. I don’t think we should be penalized for an alarm that’s set off by a thunderstorm or a power outage and resulting power surges, over which we have no control.
The letter from Middle Township states that “A relatively low number of business and residential addresses generate the vast majority of repeat false alarm calls.” So why aren’t they just charging them instead of all of us? Almost without fail, any major thunderstorm is followed by an alarm call from Cape Regional. Do they pay every time someone responds? Undoubtedly not, as a major service, but then why should my storm-generated alarm be charged?
I have had a security system for almost three years and only one time when it was set off – I still don’t know how or why, probably some sort of power surge – when I was out of town on business. I guess now I have to plan my work schedule around the weather forecast. I’ll just bet they’re hoping for lots of power surges…that should keep the budget balanced. I guess continuing to tax houses well above their market values isn’t doing enough for cash flow.
And how about that late fee? Credit card companies and mortgage lenders could learn something from the township: $25 initial charge, $25 late fee. Talk about an incentive program. For more incentive, look at the charges for false alarms: $50 for the second one (thank you so much for the first free call); $75 for the third; $100 for the fourth; $150 for the fifth, and $250 for the sixth and beyond. This should be good news for burglars: If we’re at work and our alarm company notifies us that our house alarm is sounding and asks if we want police dispatched, we’ll have to check our bank balances first.
Please explain again about how this is for our own good in freeing up emergency resources; it’s sure starting to sound more like a moneymaker for the township. I know, ATB Services probably gets the biggest chunk of that, but that’s why they have to charge these exorbitant rates. It would be nice to think the extra revenue could go toward more emergency service protection, but then we wouldn’t need those moneymaker alarm systems, would we?
Oh, and thanks for not even providing a remittance envelope. Now that will save the township really big bucks. Or maybe they were just hoping I wouldn’t be able to get an envelope before the deadline.
JEAN BARRACLOUGH
Rio Grande