Police Policy Guide for Different Regions in Ontario

Several regions in Ontario have implemented programs to reduce the amount of police dispatches caused by false alarms. This ensures police officers will be available when a real alarm situation occurs. Having a custom designed security system can help avoid false alarms and the resulting fines if an alarm is set off accidentally. Secure Options can install an alarm which works with the municipality's guidelines and regulations.

Barrie Region

• Terms of Service
  • Customers receive 1 free false alarm within a 365 day period.
  • Service will be suspended after 2 false alarms.
• Reinstatement Fees
  • $100.00 fine after 2nd false alarm.
  • $200.00 fine after 3rd false alarm.
  • $300.00 fine after 4th false alarm.
• Customer is suspended after 5th false alarm.

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Durham Region

• Requires a fee to register and any additional fees associated with the monitoring service.
• Must be registered by the dealer or by the monitoring service.

Registered Premise

• Requires a fee to be registered.
  • Residential
    • $50.00 (plus GST)
  • Commercial
    • $100.00 (plus GST)
• Terms of Service
  • Customers receive 2 free false alarms.
  • Service will be suspended after 3rd false alarm for one year.
• Reinstatement Fees
  • $150.00 for each additional false alarm.

Unregistered Premise

• Will be suspended after 1 false alarm.
• Will be fined $150.00 

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Essex County

• Terms of Service
  • All incidents must be verified by monitoring station before police can be dispatched.
  • If the Monitoring Station cannot contact the alarm owner, the names of alarm owner must be given to the police.

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Halton Region

• Requires an annual fee to register and any additional fees associated with the monitoring service.
• The customer can only be registered by the monitoring company.
  • Residential:
    • $24.00 (plus GST) per year.
  • Commercial:
    • $48.00 (plus GST) per year.

Registered Premise

• Terms of Service
  • Residential:
    • Customers are allowed 4 false alarms within a 365 day period.
    • Customers receive 1 free false alarm
    • Cautioned after 2 false alarms.
    • $30.00 after 2nd false alarm
    • $30.00  after 3rd false alarm etc...
  • Commercial:
    • Customers are allowed 4 false alarms within a 365 day period.
    • Customers receive 1 free false alarm
    • Cautioned after 2 false alarms.
    • $60.00 after 2nd false alarm
    • $60.00 after 3rd false alarm etc.

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Metropolitan Toronto(Toronto, Scarborough, Etobicoke, East York, North York)

• Terms of Service
  • Customers fined $83.50 after each false alarm.
  • Will be cautioned after 2 false alarms
  • Suspended after 4 false alarms within a 365 day period.

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Orangeville

• Terms of Service
  • No registration or fees required.
  • Customers receives 4 free false alarms within a 365 day period.
  • Service will be suspended after 5 false alarms.
  • Suspensions can be appealed.

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Peel Region - (Caledon)

• Terms of Service 
  • No registration or fees required.
  • Customers receives 2 false alarms within a 365 day period.
  • Will be cautioned after the first false alarm.
  • Service will be suspended after 2 false alarms.
  • Service may be re-instated upon receipt of documentation from the alarm subscriber, alarm company or monitoring station informing that the problem has been rectified.  Two further false alarms within the one-year period from the date of suspension will result in the confirmation of the original suspension.
    

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York Region

There are three registration classifications in the York Regional Police Alarm Program:
Priority, Registered and Unregistered.

Priority Premises:

• Requires a fee to register.
  • Residential
    • Initial fee  - $46.73  (plus GST)
    • Renewal fee  - $32.71  (plus GST)
  • Commercial
    • Initial fee  - $116.82  (plus GST)
    • Renewal fee - $79.43  (plus GST)
• Given 2 free false alarms.
• Will be cautioned after 2 false alarms 
• Service is suspended after 3.
• Appeals will be accepted once every 365 days provided that it meets several conditions.
  • The false alarm was a result of conditions outside the control of the alarm business (i.e. weather, telephone interruption etc...).
  • Corrections have been made to rectify the malfunctioning alarm system.
  • The error was not caused by the alarm subscriber or alarm business.

Registered Premise

• No fee is required.
• Allowed 1 false alarm.
• Will be cautioned after 1 false alarm.
• Service is suspended after 2 false alarms.
• Appeals will not be accepted.
• Rely on monitoring station to dispatch police and provide all relevant information which delays a police response.

Alarm subscribers can re-access police response through an appeal (Priority Premises only) or by paying the appropriate fee.

Reinstatement Fees (Applies to Priority and Registered Premises)

• $150.00 to reduce the number of false alarms by 1.
• $250.00 to reduce the false alarm count to 0.

Unregistered Premise:

• Will be suspended after 1 false alarm.
• Appeals will not be accepted.
• Rely on monitoring station to dispatch police and provide all relevant information which delays a police response.

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