Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!clyde.concordia.ca!uunet!cs.utexas.edu!mailrus!accuvax.nwu.edu!nucsrl!telecom-request
From: msmith@topaz.rutgers.edu (Mark Robert Smith)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Re: Groan, CALLER-ID Again??
Message-ID: <4707@accuvax.nwu.edu>
Date: 3 Mar 90 23:14:16 GMT
Sender: news@accuvax.nwu.edu
Organization: Rutgers - The Police State of New Jersey
Lines: 33
Approved: Telecom@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 10, Issue 142, Message 6 of 9


A quick reminder:

The areas that support Caller*ID also support Call*Trace, which
doesn't require Caller*ID.  Here's how it works.

In NJ, Call*Trace is enabled on every line where CLASS services are
enabled.  To trace a call, you type *57 (or 1157 from a dial phone)
immediately after hanging up from the annoying/threatening call.  It
costs you $1/trace.  NJ Bell won't give the results to you - they need
to be given to a "proper authority".  

In most cases, this means you need to call your local police, press
charges, and give them your number, the time and date of the trace.
Then, they call the "Harassment Department" or whatever it's called of
NJ Bell, and NJ Bell gives them the number.  They can then press a
criminal charge on the owner of that line if you and they desire.
Note that it's probably just a kid, in which case the police will
scare the bejeezus out of him/her and ask you to drop the charges.

I got Caller*ID to prevent crank calls.  I have not had the
opportunity to use Call*Trace, however, as I won't bug the police
until the caller bothers me a few times.  I have found that by reading
the crank his phone number, and then CALLING BACK to ask why he was
harassing me generally prevents future calls.  (Yes, I did this once,
and the kid never bugged me again.  He sounded really sheepish when I
called him back.)


Mark Smith, KNJ2LH                All Rights Reserved
RPO 1604               You may redistribute this article only if those who
P.O. Box 5063                 receive it may do so freely.
New Brunswick, NJ 08903-5063              msmith@topaz.rutgers.edu