ORANGE : City to Bill for Misuse of Emergency Service
Trying to discourage abuse of the 911 emergency system, the City Council approved an ordinance this week assessing a $25 fee for those who make unwarranted telephone calls for emergency services.
Police officials estimate that up to 250 of the 4,800 emergency calls each month are unjustified. False emergency calls cost the city at least $63,000 annually, because officers must be dispatched to investigate the calls.
In addition, unwarranted 911 calls also prevent officers from responding to legitimate emergencies, police said. While some unwarranted 911 calls are simply pranks, police said, the most frequent offenders are merchants who seek immediate police response to non-emergency situations.
“Sometimes they have a petty theft or some other minor crime,” said Police Chief John R. Robertson. “So they dial 911 and hang up, knowing they will get a response.”
The new ordinance, however, will not apply to citizens who make an unwarranted 911 call if the person has a “reasonable” belief that an emergency situation exists. Robertson said only blatant violators will be fined.
“We are looking to bill for pranks and obvious misuse only,” he said.
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