Property owners with repeated false security alarms that prompt a police response will now face fines of up to $489 in Dawson Creek, B.C.
Council unanimously adopted the revised bylaw at a late February meeting after receiving a staff report earlier in the month.
“In fall 2025, the Dawson Creek RCMP staff sergeant raised concerns with the city regarding an increase in false alarm calls and requested that council consider the introduction of a fee for repeat false alarms,” wrote Dawson Creek city staffers in their report to council.
Previously, the city did not charge fees for false alarms answered by police, although the bylaw included provisions for responses by the fire department. The new police fees align with those already in place for the fire service.
No fine will be issued for a first false alarm in a calendar year. A second false alarm will result in a $122 fine. A third false alarm will trigger a $244 fine, while a fourth will result in a $367 fine.
A fifth and any subsequent false alarms will result in a $489 fine. The fees are set to increase annually until at least 2028 and do not include applicable taxes.
“The required police response to alarm calls varies depending on the time of day. Alarm activations occurring during daylight hours may be responded to by a single officer, while alarms occurring during overnight hours are more likely to require a multi-member response,” according to staff’s report.
“Data indicated that false alarms at business locations accounted for more than 350 calls in 2025. Of these calls, more than 55 per cent originated from locations with two or more false alarm occurrences. Detachment data also showed that business-related false alarm calls were predominantly concentrated within the urban area,” it continued.
One anonymous business in the city was said to have 38 false alarm responses that prompted responses from two or more Mounties in 2025.
Residential data showed a slight inclination towards rural false alarm calls. However, these calls are more likely to see additional officers responding depending on how far they are from the urban area.
