WESTLAKE, Ohio – City Council, acting on a recommendation from the mayor and police chief, has approved an ordinance allowing the city to charge commercial businesses for false alarms that summon the police.

“Although an alarm system is important as a deterrent to unlawful entry, continued malfunctioning or employee error compromises the effectiveness of the system,” according to language in the ordinance. “Frequent response by the police to these alarms is not only expensive, but also creates a risk of injury to the responding officer and others and a risk of damage to the property.”

The ordinance imposes fees for false burglary and holdup alarms. It would not apply to alarm subscribers or users who sound an alarm in good faith, believing that a burglary or holdup is occurring. It also

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