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Mountain View Police Department
1000 Villa Street
Mountain View, CA 94041
650/903-6344
Directions & Map
Hours
General Business:
8 a.m. - 5 p.m. (Mon.-Fri.)
Walk-in Crime Reports:
7 a.m. - 7 p.m. (7 days)
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Alarms can be beneficial crime prevention tools. MVPD understands your need to protect your home or business with alarms. We're ready to investigate your alarms 24x7 and take appropriate action.
When purchasing an alarm, be sure to consider system cost, likelihood and cost of false alarms, alarm company service fees, and value in preventing burglary or other incidents. An alarm should be part of an entire home security plan, which includes proper door locks, window locks and more. See Home Security or Business Security.
Audible Alarms
Audible alarms are a plus, because they usually startle intruders. They also let you know when you've accidentally triggered the alarm. However, with audible-only alarms you are relying on your neighbors to call the police. Police can respond only if someone reports the alarm.
Alarm Response
MVPD takes alarms seriously because they can deter crime or allow us to catch a crime in progress. Responding officers search as much of the exterior grounds as is accessible, checking doors and windows for signs of intrusion, and looking through windows for signs of criminal activity or other emergency.
The police department will contact a person responsible for the property (owner, resident, employee, etc.) to come to the premises. This is why you must have a permit for every alarmed home or business. If signs of illegal entry are found, the responsible party will need to provide access so officers may search the interior. Once the building has been found safe, residents will be asked to check for anything suspicious, such as missing property or moved items.
Mountain View's Alarm Ordinance
Mountain View requires all alarm users to register their alarm systems with the MVPD. Without information about you and your property, we are unable to fully and properly respond to alarms. You can register your alarm by mailing a completed Alarm Permit Application, plus payment (check or money order). This can also be done at the police department (cash, check or money order).
Do not assume your alarm company will complete your permit application. You are responsible for your alarm registration. Ask your alarm company. If they are completing the application for you, be certain that they have the best contact information for you and your designates.
The Alarm Permit Application requires contact information for three designates who can come to the site at any hour, day or night. If you have fewer than three designees, you will still be granted a permit, but having backups ensures the best-possible protection for your property.
Any changes to permit information must be reported to the police department within 10 days so that we have the most up-to-date information regarding your alarm.
Permit-holder Requirements
After notification, a permit holder's designee must come to the site within 45 minutes to secure the property and handle the alarm. If no one can be reached, after checking the property, officers will close any open doors, locking them, if possible, then depart. If it appears that someone has broken in, MVPD may enter the building to search for intruders.
False Alarms
In 2001, the city revised the alarm ordinance, based partly upon the following facts:
- At the time, the police department responded to about 5000 false alarms per year.
- False alarms represented over 9% of total service calls.
- Over 98% of alarm calls were false alarms (in 2001).
The 2001 ordinance passes on some of the cost of responding to false alarms to those who can prevent them: the alarm owners.
Properly installed, maintained and operated alarm systems do not generate false alarms.
What is a false alarm?
According to the City Code, a false alarm is a non-emergency or accidental activation of an alarm system due to mechanical failure, malfunction, improper installation or maintenance, or the negligence of the owner, lessee or his/her employees or agents, which results in a response by the Mountain View Police Department. Alarm activations caused by an act of god, such as an earthquake, are excluded.
Fees & Fines
| Residential Alarm Permit (Annual) | $16.50 | | Commercial Alarm Permit (Annual) | $63.00 | | First False Alarm | No charge | | Second False Alarm | $82.00 | | Third False Alarm | $110.00 | | Fourth False Alarm | $220.00 | | Fifth & Subsequent False Alarms | $330.00 each |
Fine Waiver: The second false alarm fine can be waived if you schedule an onsite inspection. The alarm officer will come to your home or business and check for alarm problems. It's a good opportunity to ask questions and get advice on preventing false alarms.
Requirements for Alarm Service Businesses - Alarm service firms must maintain current records of subscribers and provide this information to MVPD upon request.
- Each company must also provide alarm users with:
- Written operating instructions for the alarm system
- Written guidelines on how to avoid false alarms
- Training in the operation of the system.
- All alarm systems must have a standby backup power supply to automatically assume operation during any power interruption.
| | Alarm Stats
Number of Calls per Year | Year | Calls | | 2007 | 2206 | | 2006 | 2309 | | 2005 | 2677 | | 2004 | 2567 | | 2003 | 2989 | | 2002 | 3976 | | 2001 | 5062 | | 2000 | 5199 | | 1999 | 5283 |
Today, over 95% are false alarms.
Tips for Avoiding False Alarms
Remember your code.
Don't panic!
Accidental panics?
Press numbers carefully.
Keypad doesn't work?
Wait 5 seconds, then try again.
Rehearsals.
Practice usage & cancellation with all users.
Contact alarm company first!
Accidental Activation
Don't leave until you've spoken with the alarm company.
Re-entry?
Don't rely on exit delay.
Disarm, then rearm.
Motion detectors.
Keep clear of insects, webs, dust.
Check for drafts that can move plants, curtains, etc. into sensors.
Doors & windows.
Make sure they close properly and latch securely.
Remodeling, fumigation or phone system changes?
Notify the alarm company.
Annual inspections.
Call alarm company. Often free with service contract.
Replace control panel.
Every 5 years.
| Applications & Updates
PDF Form
Submit:
MVPD front counter from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., 7 days a week.
Or mail to:
Alarm Permits
Mountain View Police Department
1000 Villa Street
Mountain View, CA 94041
Information Updates Only (free):
Email FAX 650/903-6431 |
Questions?
Alarm Officer
Steve McCoy
650/903-6707
More Police Contacts | | | | |
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Can I pay for my alarm permit with a credit card or Paypal?
If paying by mail, you may pay only with a check or money order. If paying at the police department, we also accept cash or credit cards. We do not accept Paypal payments at this time. Make checks payable to: "City of Mountain View."
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Do I need a permit for an audible-only alarm? Do I still pay false alarm fines?
Yes, a permit is required for all alarms. Yes, if police respond to your audible-only alarm without cause, you may incur a fine per the schedule above.
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How do I notify MVPD of changes in alarm permit responders or their phone numbers?
Submit another alarm permit application. No fee is required until your next annual renewal.
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If I have too many false alarms, will the police department stop responding to my alarm?
In this situation, the city ordinance allows for suspension of police response. However, MVPD will work with you to try to prevent this.
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If my alarm goes off accidentally, is there any way I can avoid the false alarm fee?
Yes. Call your alarm company ASAP. If the call is cleared before officers respond, there will be no fine. Calling the police department is less useful, because the police department has no way to validate that you're who you say you are. (Burglars could break in, then call to say it was an accidental alarm.) For this reason, the department has to respond, unless notified by the alarm company.
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Should I call the police if I hear a neighbor's audible alarm?
Yes. If an alarm is not monitored by a service, the only way the police department can find out is if someone calls it in.
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