Countywide : Freeway Call Boxes Win Board’s Approval

County supervisors on Tuesday endorsed creation of an emergency call-box network on freeways in the county and expressed the hope that the vote would set an example for cities.

The supervisors voted to add $1 a year to vehicle registration fees to finance the system. Before the fee can be imposed, it must be approved by cities containing a majority of the county’s population.

“We’re the first to take the lead,” Supervisor Harriett Wieder said. “Our action will hopefully set the example for the cities.”

A study prepared by Arthur Young and Co. for the Orange County Transportation Commission this month said installation of call boxes every half-mile would cost $383,000. Annual operating costs would be $708,000.

A $1-a-year surcharge on local vehicle registrations would raise about $1.5 million annually, the study said.