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From: hpubvwa!ssc!Tad.Cook@beaver.cs.washington.edu
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Subject: Re: COCOT-in-Violation Label File
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Date: 15 Oct 90 01:23:17 GMT
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X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 10, Issue 737, Message 7 of 8


In article <13482@accuvax.nwu.edu>, gillett@ceomax.enet.dec.com
(Christopher Gillett) writes:

> 911, and other emergency services numbers, are for emergencies
> ONLY and should never be called unless there is truly a crisis.

Maybe in your area.  In Seattle, you can't call the police to report
ANY non-emergency without dialing 9-1-1.

One time I wanted to report a car parked illegally on the sidewalk in
front of my house.  I looked up "Parking Enforcement" in the phone
book.  They told me to call 9-1-1.

"But isn't 9-1-1 for emergencies only?"

"NO!  Who told you that?"

In retrospect, it makes sense.  All calls come through a central
point, and untrained citizens like myself aren't making judgements on
what is and isn't an emergency.

By the way, I agree with Christopher's comment that it is not a good
idea to call 9-1-1 from a payphone and say "just testing."


Tad Cook  Seattle, WA  Packet: KT7H @ N7HFZ.WA.USA.NA   Phone: 206/527-4089 
MCI Mail: 3288544      Telex: 6503288544 MCI UW  
USENET:...uw-beaver!sumax!amc-gw!ssc!tad   or, tad@ssc.UUCP


[Moderator's Note: Here in Chicago we are also told to dial 911 for
only a dire emergency, where police intervention is needed immediatly.
We are not to use it for anything after the fact such as stolen autos,
or for that matter, burglaries unless they are going on at the time
you are placing the call. We are told in the rules that non-emergency
police matters are to be placed with 312 - PIG - 4000, or 312 - PIG
and the four digit extension of the desired department or officer if
you know the extension you want. Ditto the Fire Department. But in
actual practice when you call the local station house (they all have
regular numbers in addition to their PIG centrex numbers) about half
the time you get told to call 911 and have it filter back to them. The
exception seems to be if you are working with a particular detective
or someone in one of the tactical units. They like taking their own
phone calls direct, usually on their private lines.  PAT]