They say they missed notices in the newspaper, online, and in the mail. And now it's costing them $200 for failing to register a home-security system with local police.

A Des Moines family is "alarmed" at how the city is punishing them for their ignorance of a new law.

Tim and Joan Veit say they had not heard of a new law covering home security systems until theirs was tripped accidentally and police responded.

"The false alarm was on June 1 and there was this little note on my door saying 'Failure to register your alarm may result in a $200 penalty,'" said Joan.

A new law enacted in spring 2005 required people to register their system for $25 a year.

So the Veits paid and registered, but still got fined, and they aren't very happy.

"I think the $200 must be a penalty because it wasn't paid earlier," said Tim.

Then they received a letter saying "Thank you for renewing your alarm registration."

Officer Barry Sellers runs the program which he says has been very effective in helping to cut false alarms in half.

Sellers accuses the Veits of "making incorrect statements" in the case and says dozens of resident have been hit with the same $200 fine which he no longer has the power to waive or reduce.

He confirms that police will not respond to the Veits' house based solely on an alarm until it's all cleared up.

Nobody is budging.

"It has been turned over to collections now… No way to make a deal," said Sellers.

"I will not pay the $200," said Tim.

You've heard it before and it probably applies here: Ignorance of the law is no excuse.

But, the Veits say, they'll keep fighting city hall over that fine.

They could have appealed but that would have cost them another $25 and they chose not to pay more for the chance at eventually paying less.

Also written into the ordinance is the option for offenders to attend an "alarm user awareness class" in lieu of payment.

Tim and Joan say that was never offered to them.

Police say it was never offered because there is no such program.

Update

The Veits say the collection company called Wednesday and told them the city had added another $100 and the bill was now $300, and if they didn't pay it would affect their credit rating.

They paid, just to clean up the mess, but they still are not happy about the way they've been treated by the City of Des Moines.

They recommend that everyone with an alarm system check to see if local laws call for registration.