What happens when someone dials 911 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 911 system does show the number and the address from which the call came, it is possible to trace false alarm calls. Secondly, 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, dont hesitate to call 911 in an emergency, but dont do so for fun.
