ALARM COMPANIES USE OTIS AS REASEARCH TOOL.

The Security Industry Alarm Coalition (SIAC), New York, N.Y., is developing a centralized national ordinance tracking database to provide standardized information on alarm ordinances and policies relating to the alarm industry. The Ordinance Tracking Information System (OTIS) will be launched in the first half of 2005.

"OTIS will be a research tool for alarm companies operating on the local, regional and national level," said SIAC Executive Director Stan Martin. "It will provide valuable information to law enforcement, policymakers, third party monitoring companies and proprietary providers such as State Farm, Auto Zone and Federal Express."

OTIS will give law enforcement comparative information on ordinances, particularly for cities of like size, for the purpose of developing and revising alarm ordinances. The information in the OTIS database will allow SIAC to give law enforcement and government agencies comprehensive information on ordinances, as well as the impact on public safety.

"The ISO (International Organization for Standardization) is interested in accessing ordinance data for comparative purposes in the insurance industry," said Martin. "Insurance companies are concerned with the growing trend toward non-response to citizens' alarms by some jurisdictions and they have an ongoing need for information on non-response jurisdictions."

"Every alarm company has an obligation and responsibility to be familiar with ordinances and regulations in local jurisdictions," said Martin. "OTIS is a program that will bring all of our resources to a centralized database and ensure that the information is up to date and easily accessible."

SIAC initiated OTIS by bringing together representatives of the alarm industry to review the feasibility of creating a centralized database. The working group developed the initial protocols and will be working with the industry and law enforcement through the professional associations to finalize the project.

For more information on OTIS and programs that support effective alarm management and the enhancement of public safety, visit the Security Industry Alarm Coalition at http://www.SIACinc.org.

The Security Industry Alarm Coalition (SIAC) is a non-profit organization formed to represent one voice for the alarm industry on alarm management issues. SIAC's primary charter is to significantly reduce calls for service and improve the lines of communication with law enforcement and end users to ensure the safety and security of more than 30 million alarm system users in homes and businesses throughout North America.

For more information, call 310/827-9927.