False alarm fines increase 500 percent

Some fines in Harrisburg are going up…some five times the amount they are now.

The fees include false alarms for fires and burglaries. They have been a real problem in Harrisburg for police officers and the city fire department--more than you would imagine.

There are fines for multiple offenses, but those fines are now going up enough so that frequent violators will notice.

City Council Tuesday night approved a law that will increase 2nd false alarm fines from $10 to $50, 3rd false alarm from $25 to $50 and 4th false alarm from $35 to $100.

Each additional false alarm will cost $500 per incident.

“These do cost a significant amount of money to get the fire department to respond to false alarms and police to burglar alarms. So we have to make sure we crack down and that these happen less, and if they do keep happening, then there are consequences,” said Brad Koplinski with Harrisburg City Council.

The city said more false alarms come from businesses than from residential properties. The new fines will take effect in the coming weeks.