New Nassau fees, penalties to raise millions

The Nassau County Legislature approved new fees and penalties Monday that are expected to bring in $2.5 million this year and about $12.8 million annually.

Lawmakers voted to increase the penalty for false alarms that bring police to a home or business, registration fees for nonbank automatic teller machines and license fees for home improvement businesses.

For those with county permits for alarms, residential and commercial, the first two false alarms remain warnings. For those without permits, the penalty goes from $100 to $150 for residences and there is a new $200 penalty for commercial properties.

Another increase was for registration fees for nonbank ATMs, from $100 to $150, and from $50 to $100 for renewals.

The license fee for home improvement businesses will increase from $400 to $500 for new ones and from $300 to $400 for renewals.

There will be a new $7,500 fee for medevac helicopter ambulance service.

That will not go into effect for at least six months because it needs approval from the Federal Aviation Administration, county officials said.

The administrative fee for traffic fines will double from $15 to $30 unless a not guilty verdict is rendered.