COUNTYWIDE : Be a Samaritan, Via Your Cellular Phone

Orange County customers of a major cellular phone network can now report traffic jams, smog-belching vehicles or taggers defacing public property to a central number, free of charge.

PacTel Cellular, competing with rival L.A. Cellular for new customers, as well as seeking to provide useful services, is launching the new PacTel Patrol program with a promotion called Cellular Samaritan Week.

Under the program, PacTel customers can press the star key and 9 to report information directly to an appropriate agency without being billed for air time or other charges. Categories include traffic conditions, road safety and maintenance, graffiti and smog pollution. For emergency situations, cellular callers will continue to dial 911, which is free.

PacTel officials said tips from motorists will be received by live operators from Shadow Traffic, who, in turn, will verify their accuracy and incorporate them into detailed traffic advisories on PacTel’s InfoCenter, which is available by dialing the star key and 1-2-3.

In addition to its telephone service, Shadow Traffic shares advisories with client radio stations throughout Southern California.

“The information provided by PacTel Patrol members is very useful,” Rob Fox of Shadow Traffic said. Motorists can help keep people away from “traffic congestion and potentially dangerous situations.”

L.A. Cellular customers currently receive similar briefings from a competing traffic monitoring service.

Cellular Samaritan Weekruns through Sunday.

A free Road Safety Consumer Resource Guide is available from PacTel by calling (714) 966-0200. Additional information is available at (714) 222-8781.