City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: FEBRUARY 6, 2024
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
THROUGH: JAMES F. PARAJON, CITY MANAGER /s/
FROM: CHERAN IVERY, CITY ATTORNEY
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Public Hearing, Second Reading and Final Passage of an Ordinance to Authorize Reimbursement of Costs from Responding to Terrorism Hoax Incidents, Bomb Threats, and Malicious Activation of Fire Alarms in Section 13-1-42 Chapter 1 (GENERAL OFFENSES) of Title 13 (MISCELLANEOUS OFFENSES) of the Code of the City of Alexandria, Virginia, 1981, as amended. [ROLL-CALL VOTE]
BODY
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ISSUE: Consideration of an ordinance authorizing the City to bill individuals for the reasonable expense of an appropriate emergency response if that individual is convicted of an offense involving a terrorism hoax, a bomb threat, malicious activation of a fire alarm, or certain false communications of emergencies.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council:
1. Receive and approve the proposed ordinance (Attachment 2) to authorize the City to collect reimbursement for the reasonable expense of an appropriate emergency response from individuals convicted of offenses involving terrorism hoaxes, bomb threats, malicious activation of fire alarms, and certain false communications of emergencies; and
2. Schedule it for a second reading, public hearing and final passage on Saturday, February 24, 2024.
BACKGROUND: Emergency personnel in the City of Alexandria routinely respond to maliciously placed false reports of emergencies, such as mass shooting hoaxes, bomb threats, and the malicious activation of fire alarms. Since April 2020, at least 25 false emergencies have been reported in the City, including bomb threats and reports of mass shootings at schools and in a government building. These false reports of emergencies can require a costly response from emergency personnel depending on the size and...
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