MARTIN COUNTY, Fla. (CBS12) — Martin County commissioners have unanimously approved a new ordinance aimed at curbing the staggering number of false alarms that drain law enforcement resources.
The move comes as the Martin County Sheriff’s Office reveals that some local properties have triggered thousands of unnecessary calls, prompting a shift in how these incidents are penalized and appealed.
The primary change to Chapter 111, Article 5 of the Martin County Code allows individuals or businesses cited for a false alarm to formally appeal the citation. To facilitate this, the commission established a $50 administrative fee for filing an appeal, which will help cover the costs of a magistrate.
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Sheriff John Budensiek emphasized the necessity of the change, noting that the department has previously struggled to assess fines effectively. He highlighted a single location in Indiantown that recorded over 2,000 false alarms, a figure he says undermines the urgency of deputy responses.
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“I want alarms to be serious when deputies respond,” the Sheriff told commissioners. While he noted that the vast majority of businesses in the county are diligent about maintenance, the new fine structure—which starts at $50 and increases with subsequent offenses—is designed to target chronic offenders.