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Comment on licensing violators from article on May 8, 2014
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Ken
    Re: call the police? I did that. The officer (1) had no clue about the law and (2) once he reviewed the statute he told me that it wasn't the PD's jurisdiction. I guess the police would rather do speed enforcement.
Thank you, 
John Romero
Keystone Security Systems
Rochester, New York
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Question - status of NFPA 731
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Ken, 
    Are you guys or any of your readers know the status of the adoption of NFPA 731 Installation of Electronic Premises Security Systems? We have had a school district demand we go back and make things we have done comply with the standards of NFPA 731.  I sit on the Board of Directors of the South Carolina Alarm Association and we do not believe our State has adopted this code yet.  Do you or any readers know where our industry sits on this code implementation?
    Love your site, read and learn from it daily!
Dave Whittington, CPP, SET
Blue Ridge Security
Anderson, SC
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Response
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    Anyone willing to answer this one?
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camera self installation in Mass
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Ken,
    I am looking for some insight regarding commercial customers who install their own camera systems in the state of Massachusetts.  Are there any concerns with the validity of evidence obtained by these systems specifically because they were not installed by a professional installer?  Also, can they be held accountable for have unlicensed individuals installing these systems? The state of Massachusetts requires multiple licenses to install camera/security systems up to and including a license issued by the Department of Public Safety (S License for the company and each employee is issues a certificate after a background check).  We are seeing more and more customers buying over the counter products and installing them on their own. 
Best regards,
Phil C. Forde Jr.
Horizon Alarms LLC
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Response
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    I am going to ask for help with this answer too.  Generally I think self installation is not covered by licenses.
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stopping improper competition
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Ken,
    I have used a company for years to provide us our fire alarm and security inspection report software (Lets call them company A).  Therefore, we have built a data base and stored it in company A's  cloud.  This cloud is only accessible with a security code held by us, and of course company A.  With this software our technician will go to a customers location, log on and test these systems annually and semiannually using the stored data.  Because all the customers contact information, drawings, and programs, as well as previous inspections are available to our techs it is easier on them and more profitable to our company.  That is why I bought into this software company years ago and placed all my accounts and confidential information on company A's site.  
    Now today the same guy who opened this software company A, and sold it to companies across the country like mine, has opened a fire alarm service company (Lets call them company B) and company B is opening shops across the county competing with the same companies that company A sold software to.  Yes, they are opened under a different corporate name, however, it has some of the same players.  It is also extremely obvious they are using the proprietary information from the software company A because they are calling my customers and trying to sell them fire alarm inspections.  I have actually lost customers to them.  Other than being a conflict of interest do I have any legal actions I can take?  Are you hearing this from other security companies in your security circle?  If so would we all be able to come together to go against this company as a class action suit? 
anon
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Response
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    You can complain to consumer agencies and hope they take action - let them know how the public is being damages, not so much you.  You can also bring a lawsuit, but it's likely to be expensive so it should be worth it.
    Be careful who you do business with and make sure you have proper contracts that protects your property rights and restricts use of your business records and data and prevents improper competition.
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TO SUBMIT QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS REPLY TO THIS EMAIL OR EMAIL Ken@Kirschenbaumesq.com.  Most comments and questions get circulated.

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Speaking Engagements 

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Metropolitan Burglar and Fire Alarm Assoc of New York.  May 15, 2014 4:30 to 6:30 PM at Marriot Hotel, Uniondale, NY.  Comprehensive analysis and comparison of the Standard Form All in One contracts.  All alarm dealers welcome.  No charge for attendance. Dinner and MBFAA meeting will follow the seminar.  For more info and to RSVP contact Alan Glasser, Executive Director of MBFAA at 718-894-6712 or mbfaa.ny@gmail.com

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Northeast Security & Systems Contractors Expo  Thursday, May 22, 2014 10 am to 5 PM at  Royal Plaza Trade Center,  Marlborough, MA.  registration  https://www.expotracshows.com/neacc/2014/  Presentation on Alarm Law issues and Q&A will be at 2 PM.  For more info contact Gary Spaulding, NEACC President

207-384-2420 gary@spauldingsecurity.com
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Alarm Association of Greater St. Louis.   September 16, 2014.  at Tech Electronics HQs office at 6437 Manchester  Ave, St. Louis, MO 63139.  Meeting is from 11:45 – 1:30  Video conference presentation starting at 12:15 CST.  For more information or to register contact Tony Drago adrago@tyco.com  www.alarmstl.org/
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Alabama Alarm Association.  AAA's Fall Meeting and Trade Show - October 21, 2014 from 3 to 5 PM at DoubleTree Hotel 808 South 20th Street Birmingham, AL 35205  for more info contact AAA Executive Director: director@alabamaalarm.org  (205) 933-9000 

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Electronic Security Summit for 2014.  October 22-24, 2014  at the landmark Broadmoor Hotel. Colorado Springs, CO.  For more information contact Alexander J. Quirin, CEO & Managing Partner, Advisory Summit Providers, LLC.,  (786) 999-9738

alex.quirin@aspsummits.com    www.aspsummits.com

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