Tennessee Enacts Enhanced Call Verification Law

  • Jul 06, 2007

Tennessee has become the second state in the country to follow a new trend that some herald as a modern solution to redirecting police resources. On May 15, Gov. Phil Bredesen signed a law requiring the entire state to implement Enhanced Call Verification (ECV). According to the law, alarm monitoring companies must now call "at least two different numbers prior to dispatching police to a location."

What started out as a state law in Florida last year is proving to be a trend for false dispatch reduction across the country," said Glen Mowrey, national law enforcement liaison for the Security Industry Alarm Coalition. "Most agencies have had limited success with other policies in the past, but the proliferation of cell phones has made ECV the best solution for the future."

The idea behind the law is that alarm monitoring companies can be highly effective in identifying false alarms by simply calling a second phone number when the first call goes unanswered. SIAC claims ECV, combined with the alarm industries best practices, can reduce dispatches by more than 70 percent. Tennessee's law enforcement executives say that will help save their limited resources and allow them to redirect officers to more pressing needs.

"As public agencies, we are always limited on our resources," said John Lowry, president of the Tennessee Association of Chiefs of Police. "We're excited that our officers will now be able to spend their time more efficiently than responding to too many false burglar alarms."

"We were already working with municipalities across the state to implement local ECV policies," said Penny Brooks, executive director of the Tennessee Burglar and Fire Alarm Association. "When we heard about Florida's idea to make it a statewide law, it seemed like a no-brainer."

The new law will improve Tennessee's ECV resolution passed two years ago. The previous law was based on the International Association of Chiefs of Police, as well as the National Sheriffs Association's resolution.

The two-call law does not apply to hold-up alarms. It went into effect May 23.

Featured

  • Improve Incident Response With Intelligent Cloud Video Surveillance

    Video surveillance is a vital part of business security, helping institutions protect against everyday threats for increased employee, customer, and student safety. However, many outdated surveillance solutions lack the ability to offer immediate insights into critical incidents. This slows down investigations and limits how effectively teams can respond to situations, creating greater risks for the organization. Read Now

  • Security Today Announces 2025 CyberSecured Award Winners

    Security Today is pleased to announce the 2025 CyberSecured Awards winners. Sixteen companies are being recognized this year for their network products and other cybersecurity initiatives that secure our world today. Read Now

  • Empowering and Securing a Mobile Workforce

    What happens when technology lets you work anywhere – but exposes you to security threats everywhere? This is the reality of modern work. No longer tethered to desks, work happens everywhere – in the office, from home, on the road, and in countless locations in between. Read Now

  • TSA Introduces New $45 Fee Option for Travelers Without REAL ID Starting February 1

    The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced today that it will refer all passengers who do not present an acceptable form of ID and still want to fly an option to pay a $45 fee to use a modernized alternative identity verification system, TSA Confirm.ID, to establish identity at security checkpoints beginning on February 1, 2026. Read Now

  • The Evolution of IP Camera Intelligence

    As the 30th anniversary of the IP camera approaches in 2026, it is worth reflecting on how far we have come. The first network camera, launched in 1996, delivered one frame every 17 seconds—not impressive by today’s standards, but groundbreaking at the time. It did something that no analog system could: transmit video over a standard IP network. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • Mobile Safe Shield

    Mobile Safe Shield

    SafeWood Designs, Inc., a manufacturer of patented bullet resistant products, is excited to announce the launch of the Mobile Safe Shield. The Mobile Safe Shield is a moveable bullet resistant shield that provides protection in the event of an assailant and supplies cover in the event of an active shooter. With a heavy-duty steel frame, quality castor wheels, and bullet resistant core, the Mobile Safe Shield is a perfect addition to any guard station, security desks, courthouses, police stations, schools, office spaces and more. The Mobile Safe Shield is incredibly customizable. Bullet resistant materials are available in UL 752 Levels 1 through 8 and include glass, white board, tack board, veneer, and plastic laminate. Flexibility in bullet resistant materials allows for the Mobile Safe Shield to blend more with current interior décor for a seamless design aesthetic. Optional custom paint colors are also available for the steel frame.

  • ResponderLink

    ResponderLink

    Shooter Detection Systems (SDS), an Alarm.com company and a global leader in gunshot detection solutions, has introduced ResponderLink, a groundbreaking new 911 notification service for gunshot events. ResponderLink completes the circle from detection to 911 notification to first responder awareness, giving law enforcement enhanced situational intelligence they urgently need to save lives. Integrating SDS’s proven gunshot detection system with Noonlight’s SendPolice platform, ResponderLink is the first solution to automatically deliver real-time gunshot detection data to 911 call centers and first responders. When shots are detected, the 911 dispatching center, also known as the Public Safety Answering Point or PSAP, is contacted based on the gunfire location, enabling faster initiation of life-saving emergency protocols.

  • EasyGate SPT and SPD

    EasyGate SPT SPD

    Security solutions do not have to be ordinary, let alone unattractive. Having renewed their best-selling speed gates, Cominfo has once again demonstrated their Art of Security philosophy in practice — and confirmed their position as an industry-leading manufacturers of premium speed gates and turnstiles.