A resolution requesting the Davidson County Delegation to the Tennessee General Assembly to introduce and enact the necessary legislation to allow the Metropolitan Government to impose a fifty dollar fine for excessive false fire and burglar alarms.

WHEREAS, Tennessee Code Annotated §62-32-321 prohibits counties and municipalities from imposing penalties in excess of twenty-five dollars for false fire and burglar alarms; and

WHEREAS, during the years 1999 through 2002, the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department responded to 302,893 false alarms, which resulted in an average of 18 officers per hour responding to false alarms instead of patrolling the streets and protecting the citizens of Nashville and Davidson County; and

WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Code of Laws was recently amended by the Metropolitan Council to reduce the number of permissible false alarms per year to three false burglar alarms, two false robber/panic alarms, and three false fire alarms; and

WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Council desires to increase the fine for excessive false alarms from twenty-five to fifty dollars in an effort to help reduce the number of false alarms; and

WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the citizens of Nashville and Davidson County that the Metropolitan Government be allowed to impose a fine of fifty dollars for excessive false alarms.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:

Section 1. That the Metropolitan County Council hereby goes on record as requesting the Davidson County Delegation to the Tennessee General Assembly to introduce and enact the necessary legislation to allow the Metropolitan Government to impose a fifty dollar fine for excessive false fire and burglar alarms.

Section 2. That the Metropolitan Clerk is directed to send a certified copy of this Resolution to each member of the Davidson County Delegation to the Tennessee General Assembly.

Section 3. This Resolution shall take effect from and after its adoption, the welfare of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.

Sponsored by: Mike Jameson, Buck Dozier