In May of 1996, the Gadsden City Council passed an ordinance governing the installation and use of alarm systems in the City of Gadsden. This creates some very serious problems. This type of response creates an increased risk to the officers as well as the other motorists on the roadways. False alarms cause police response to alarm activations to be less reliable. These false alarms take officers away from other pressing matters.
False alarms are a nuisance to alarm users as well as their neighbors.
Gadsden's alarm ordinance requires that all alarms installed or used in the City of Gadsden be registered with the police department. Under city ordinance the police department will only respond to those alarms that are registered and permitted. Assessments may be appealed in writing. After the eighth false alarm the user's permit will be revoked and the police department will no longer respond to the alarm. Revocations may also be appealed in writing.