A false alarm is most commonly defined by police departments as any alarm signal that results in a response when no actual emergency exists. The key word is response.
If police response does not occur — meaning the alarm is canceled before authorities are called or before they arrive — no report is written and no citation is issued.
This is important because it represents the primary opportunity for alarm users to prevent costly fines caused by signals sent in error.
Up to 98% of all alarm signals are false alarms. Of that figure, approximately 76% are caused by user error, such as accidentally arming the system improperly or failing to fully secure the property before setting the alarm.
Equipment malfunction accounts for approximately 10% of false alarms, while weather conditions and telephone line problems account for the remaining 14%.
False Alarm Prevention Checklist provided by the Alarm Association of Florida.