What happens when someone dials 9-1-1 as a prank?
In the first place it is a crime to knowingly give a false report of a crime, fire, or medical emergency. If you are caught doing so, you can be arrested and fined or imprisoned. Because the enhanced 9-1-1 system does show the number and the address from which the call came, it is possible to trace false alarms calls. Second, if the operator is unable to determine whether or not the call is a real emergency, a police car will be sent to the address. Then, if a real emergency happens somewhere else, there would be fewer cars available to handle it. Such unnecessary calls cost taxpayers money and could cost property and lives. For the safety of everyone, don’t hesitate to call 9-1-1 in an emergency, but don’t do so for fun.
