by: Barbara Hijek August 2, 2010 07:43 AM
It is a crime — a first class misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail and $1,000 fine — to deliberately abuse 911 emergency call lines. But 911 supervisors in Martin, Indian River and St. Lucie counties say abuse usually has to be especially egregious before arrests are made, reports TCPalm.com.
Perhaps the most widely publicized incident involving a Treasure Coast emergency call center occurred in March 2009: A 27-year-old Fort Pierce woman phoned 911 three times after a McDonald’s restaurant didn’t have enough Chicken McNuggets to fill her 10-piece meal order and would not immediately give her a cash refund.
That caller was issued an order to appear in court on a charge of misusing 911.
TCPalm.com cites other examples:One man phoned 911 from the ninth hole of a golf course to order a chicken salad sandwich, toasted.
In another instance, it took a translator to determine a Spanish-speaking woman was phoning 911 to learn results of her gynecological exam.
Then, there were two separate instances involving little boys: One phoned emergency dispatchers to ask help with his math homework; another called to report his mommy wouldn’t kiss him good night.
“There is a problem with drunk dialing,” Amy Boger, operations manager for St. Lucie County’s 911 emergency dispatch center, told TCPalm.com.
FloriDUH top 911 non-emergencies:1. 911 emergency: Mom has his beer
2. Man calls 911 over Obama, Xbox
3. 911 emergency: Husband took her cell phone and wouldn't give it back.
4. Calling 911: Where are my McNuggets?
5. Lots of folks dial 911 for stupid stuff. But this guy wins
6. Man calls 911 claiming he's been beaten to get ride to bar. Check out his mug
7. Man calls 911 and invites deputies in to see his pot
8. Man calls 911, asks for sex. He gets jail.
9. Man calls 911, then can't remember where he lives
10. 911 call: The bar won't serve me
11. 9-1-1: "I'm hungry"
12. No booze! That's an emergency. Call 911
13. 911: He stole my dope money
14. 911 call: "Take me to detox" but first, how about a beer?
15. Fourth time is a charm: Man charged again with abusing 911 callsDo we need to tell you again? Those 911 calls are for life-or-death emergencies.
It is a crime — a first class misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail and $1,000 fine — to deliberately abuse 911 emergency call lines.
Image: mcphersoncountyks.us
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