NewMexiKen doesn’t want to get off on a rant — it’s so unlike me — but I find the letter I received from the Albuquerque Chief of Police yesterday aggravating.
It seems that 98% of all alarm calls are false and that false alarms “keep Public Safety Officers from responding to true emergencies. In order to reduce false alarms, the False Alarm Ordinance (No. 02-35) requires that all alarm users acquire an annual Alarm User Permit.”
The permit is $25, and the letter was accompanied by an invoice in my name from the Police Department in that amount.
First, exactly how does this permit reduce false alarms?
Second, NewMexiKen doesn’t live in Albuquerque.
The letter does say, “If you do not live within the Albuquerque city limits you are not required to have a permit.” But I am expected to call and “if we do not hear from you our system will keep sending you notices.”