Council plans law charging for repeat calls to police

[Kire]

Council plans law charging for repeat calls to police
Thursday, February 17, 2005
By LINDA LISANTI
The Express-Times

PHILLIPSBURG, NJ -- Soon in this town, it'll be three calls and you're out -- of money that is.

Town council expects to put a new law on the books next month whereby if the police are called to a private property more than three times in one year, the owner will be charged by the town for each additional call.

"We don't want people not to call the police," said council Vice President Jim Shelly. "Our goal is to go after that property owner whose property is a continuous source of police calls whether it's a rental or single-family home."

Under the law, which council introduced Tuesday and plans to adopt in March, the owner will be charged a fee intended to cover the costs associated with the officers, equipment and administrative costs related to each call above the limit.

Council has yet to set that amount.

If the owner fails to pay, the town can take civil action against him or her or impose the fees as a municipal lien against the property.

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