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New Fines For False Alarms In Las Cruces

Owners of Las Cruces homes and commercial businesses will be subject to new fines for chronic false reports generated by alarm systems, but enforcement won't start until Aug. 1.

The ordinance approved Tuesday by the City Council also requires property owners to register alarm systems and pay a $25 fee.

City officials say 99 percent of alarms turn out to be false. They estimate it costs taxpayers $400,000 to respond to false alarms within the city.

The Las Cruces Sun-News reports that the ordinance provides for gradually increasing fines for multiple alarms reported at a location.

The fines will start at $100 for a third false alarm and rise to $200 for a fourth false alarm and $300 for a fifth false alartm.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.