Burglar alarm registration - Davidson county? (2015, crime, home)

[rainman88]

It seems outrageous that there is a yearly charge for the right to defend your home, but alas that appears to be the case: Nashville > Metro Clerk > Alarm Registration. I have a couple of questions that I will find out the answer to Monday but maybe someone knows today...

- It says the year goes from April 1 to April 1. If I register my alarm Monday will that count through April 2015? Obviously I am not going to be robbed $20 for one month of permit.

- Does anyone know what the fines that the law details out (Nashville > Page Not Found For example what is the fine for the police being called to the home of an unregistered alarm? What is the fine for the police being called the 4th false time in a calendar year (you are allowed 3)?

Thanks!

[Hey_Hey]

I'm fine paying the fee. Alarm systems eat up a lot of police manpower, and that money has to come from somewhere. I don't know what the fees are for police responding to an unregistered home alarms.

[Sigequinox]

You should pay for it yourself. If no one else on your street has an alarm system, and yours goes off when your teenage son sneaks out at 2 in the morning, why should your neighbors get stuck subsidizing the cost to have the police come to YOUR home? The flip side is, your not paying for everyone elses false alarms--which, btw, make up the large majority of alarm responses.

More towards your question, I'm not sure, but I think after you get off the phone with them you will find out that they prorate the cost based on when you register till the start of the next cycle (ie. you will not pay for one year if there are only 2 months remaining)

[rainman88]

If I can just pay a prorated amount plus $20 for next year that would be great. I'll report back on what they say.

To both other posters, the money comes from the taxes you pay, which pay the police and fire department's salaries! You are already paying them out of your hard earned money. I wish at my job I could force people to pay an extra penalty fee just for doing the job I'm already getting paid for, what a bargain.

[nashvols]

It's $20. If it were $20 per month, I might see why it is an issue. Pay the damn fee.

[Sigequinox]

Originally Posted by nashvols

It's $20. If it were $20 per month, I might see why it is an issue. Pay the damn fee.

This whole time I thought it was 20/month and thought that sounded a little steep. 20 dollars a year though....you just don't get anything for 20 bucks a year these days.

[yoda911]

Just make sure you get your money's worth out of that extra city tax by having a few false alarms a year. You're paying for it.

[N.Cal]

Originally Posted by Sigequinox

More towards your question, I'm not sure, but I think after you get off the phone with them you will find out that they prorate the cost based on when you register till the start of the next cycle (ie. you will not pay for one year if there are only 2 months remaining)

They definitely do not prorate if you have to register in July! $20 for 8 months and renewal just came in the mail.

[rainman88]

Thanks N.Cal that is excellent information to know. If there is no pro-rated option for 37 days of permit then the options will be to have no alarm service until April 1st or go with the heinous crime of not getting a permit for 37 days. I'll probably choose to be a super criminal.

How soon will they let you renew? Meaning, is it too soon for me to be able to get the April 1st 2014-2015 permit.

[N.Cal]

Not sure how soon you can renew. But if you don't have it set up yet you might make an appointment because it took at least two weeks for NCA to come out and do mine.