From staff reports:

Following a recommendation from the Security Industry Alarm Coalition (SIAC), the Federal Way Police Department announced Aug. 10 that it will enact a new false alarm fee schedule this month.

Federal Way police responded to 2,357 alarms in 2010, with 65 percent of those determined to be false, according to police. Citing SIAC, the department said most false alarms are caused by “user error, children, visitors, pets and cleaning crews.” Because of this, SIAC suggests that municipalities enact false alarm fees in order to discourage false alarms.

In Federal Way, the first two false alarm calls for burglary and robbery are free. Subsequent false alarm fees for burglary calls range from $50 to $200, and from $75 to $300 for false robbery alarm calls.

All alarm systems within city limits must be registered, according to Federal Way police. To learn more, call (253) 835-6705.