Maui requiring alarm systems to be registered

Maui County residents and businesses will be required to register their alarm systems starting Oct. 3 in what police say is an effort to reduce the number of false alerts to authorities.

Maui’s new program sets up registration fees for alarm systems and fines for false alarms, police said in a news release Wednesday.

For residential alarms, the initial registration cost is $25 with a $25 renewal fee every two years, according to the release. Failure to register is a $50 fine.

For business alarms, the first registration cost is $50 with a $50 renewal fee every two years, the release said. Failure to register is a $100 fine.

Police ask that people not register their systems before Oct. 3.

Fines for false alarms are graduated:

>> For residences, there will be no charge for the first false alarm. The second false alarm will result in a $25 fine and the third $50. Each subsequent false alarm will be $50.

>> For businesses, there will be no charge for the first false alarm. The second false alarm will cost $50 and a third $100. Each subsequent false alarm will be $150.

Police said the program is intended to reduce false alarms, which divert police from “other genuine enforcement needs.”

An average of 95 percent of alarm calls are false, police said.