Federal Trade Commission “Red Flag” regulations go into full enforcement as of August 1, 2009. Arguably all alarm companies who provide PERS service, maintain credit card information for their subscribers, or send invoices for recurring periodic revenue, are covered by the regulations. According to the regulations you need to have a written plan to deal with potential identify theft.
The FTC has developed a handy do-it-yourself guide to help businesses comply with the new rules.
A complete overview of the regulations can also be found here:
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/business/idtheft/bus23.pdf
The township of Lafayette, LA has recently made several changes to their ordinances regarding alarm systems in their municipality.
Changes made to the ordinance include:
• Chapter 32, Section 32-33 – modify the defined term “malicious fire alarm” to “malicious false alarm” and adds the term “Verify (double)” to mean that the alarm business monitoring service shall call two telephone numbers rather than one telephone number before dispatching police.
• Chapter 32, Section 32-35 – amended paragraph (a) “Alarm user permits” and creates new paragraphs (j) and (k) to read:
(j) Glass break detectors. Upon the installation of a glass break detector with a new alarm system, it is required that the device is equipped with dual technology. With a pre-existing alarm system, should police services be required and it is determined that the false alarm was due to a glass break detector for the third or more times, the alarm user must, if it has not already been done, upgrade the glass break to dual technology.
(k) Verify (double). The monitoring centers shall call two phone numbers prior to police dispatch on receipt of intrusion alarm signals. The first call will be to the premise and the second call will be to the first emergency contact number.
• Chapter 32, Section 32-37 – amended two paragraphs regarding false alarms. Paragraph (a) concerning penalties and paragraph (d) concerning service waivers.
• Chapter 32, Section 32-43 – amended paragraph (d) concerning reporting alarms to the police department.
• Chapter 32, Section 32-44 – amended paragraphs (e) and (g) regarding alarm business requirements as it relates to cooperation with police department and compliance.
• Chapter 32, Section 32-45 – modify section concerning proper alarm equipment to create a new paragraph (6) to read:
(6) Ensure that, when servicing an alarm system, every effort is made to avoid a false dispatch by either placing the alarm system on test and/or canceling any accidental alarm notification. If it is later determined that a false alarm was attributed to an alarm user’s account due to the alarm company’s negligence, the alarm business shall be required to pay the fine in question on the user’s account.
• Chapter 32, Section 32-51 – provides exceptions to government entities.
