The Saint Paul Police Department Technology Development & Implementation Unit is in charge of processing all false alarms.
Responding officer(s) are required to document alarm calls in an incident report in the Records Management System (RMS). The report must include the exact address of the alarm and details of the circumstance along with other required information (see G.O. 469.00). A false alarm means the activation of an alarm system which is intended to summon a police response by the alarm system user, owner, designated contact person or person in control of the premises on which the alarm system is placed, through intentional misuse, mechanical failure or malfunction, improper installation, maintenance or supervision, or negligence.
Information from these reports is then entered by personnel in the research and development within the technology development & implementation unit, into the City of Saint Paul Electronic Computerized License, Inspection and Permit System (ECLIPS). This database generates invoices to licensees for false alarms. Charges are generated on the following basis: A warning will be issued by the city for the first violation in a calendar year. Fees will be assessed for more than one false alarm. The fees are as follows: $75 for the second false alarm, $100 for the third, $200 for the fourth, $300 for the fifth, $400 for the sixth and $500 for the seventh and every false alarm thereafter. Saint Paul’s fees are based on a fee schedule imposed by city ordinance.
The alarm unit is able to generate a report that shows what accounts have had an excessive amount of calls for false alarms. Licensees with questions or concerns are explained the city ordinance and may be referred to the department of safety & inspections.
Revised June 18, 2019