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From: optilink!cramer@uunet.uu.net (Clayton Cramer)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Re: San Francisco P.D. and 911 Priorities
Message-ID: <13503@accuvax.nwu.edu>
Date: 13 Oct 90 18:28:20 GMT
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X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 10, Issue 733, Message 5 of 11


In article <13278@accuvax.nwu.edu>, djb@mailer.cc.fsu.edu (David
Brightbill) writes:

> One technology which has been experimented with to solve the pay phone
> false alarm problem is a fire alarm kiosk which a user has to enter
> and close the door.  The door latches and stays locked until a fire or
> police person responds to the call and let's the citizen out.  There
> are a ton of obvious disadvantages having to do with civil liberty,
> etc.  One benefit is for folks being attacked by muggers.  They can
> pop into a kiosk and hang out till help comes.  If memory serves, the
> kiosks were tried in a large NE city about four or five years ago.

I'm told that Citibank Automated Teller Machines had such an arrangement 
at one time in NYC, for the obvious reason that ATMs attract thieves.
However, telephone booths are not made of bulletproof glass -- and if
I were calling the police to report a major felony in progress, I
would want at least that minimal level of protection.  Of course,
there's always gasoline and a match, which may make even bulletproof
glass rather irrelevant.


Clayton E. Cramer {pyramid,pixar,tekbspa}!optilink!cramer
You must be kidding!  No company would hold opinions like mine!