The alarm industry has made considerable progress in recent years toward the reduction of false alarms. However, alarm-control ordinances have increased rapidly during the same period. Law enforcement and private security companies seem to agree on the need for State licensing and regulation of the industry, although it is not clear how best to accomplish this. Many departments are enforcing ordinances that result in fines and possibly arrest, while others either do not respond at all to alarms with frequent false alarms or classify alarms by the number of false alarms received. Police agencies, users, and alarm companies should develop strategies to reduce the costs and the amount of patrol time spent answering false alarms, address the issue of complacency caused by repeated responses to false alarms, educate alarm customers about the proper use of alarms, screen alarms prior to police notification, and train police about the identification and use of alarm systems. (Author abstract modified)