7.29.20 – Newsbreak
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds recently signed legislation that prohibits cities and counties across the state from fining alarm companies for the false alarms incurred by their customers.
The law, which was included as part of larger appropriations bill, will take effect immediately. Click here to read the full text of the bill.
Specifically, the law states that a “political subdivision shall not adopt or enforce” any measure that would require an alarm company to pay a fee or fine as it relates to a false alarm, emergency response to false alarms or permits associated with installing or keeping an alarm system in service.
The law also allows companies to continue billing customers for any costs associated with permit fees that were passed along prior to the legislation’s passage through the end of 2020.
“The industry needs to thank Per Mar Security for their personal effort in getting this legislation enacted. Each state should consider similar legislation to ensure fines are billed to the folks that operate these systems and not the company who installs or monitors them,” the Security Industry Alarm Coalition (SIAC) wrote on its blog praising the move. We can’t emphasize enough how important this legislation is for the dealers in Iowa, and across the United States. It’s a major positive step for our entire industry.”
Iowa is the latest state to prohibit the fining of alarm companies for false alarms incurred by customers, joining Tennessee which passed a similar measure last year.