I got a good question

[cinder3076]

Can someone tell me why a 911 dispatcher would let the phone ring off the hook when someone is calling 911. It took me about 5min to get through with calling repeatedly then someone finally answers and says the call had been reported (it was a car accident). This happened in Upstate NY.

[kels]

1. Sometimes they are busy. 18 people reporting the same accident.

2. Sometimes they are short handed, then see #1

3. Sometimes the phone system doesnt work properly.

etc
etc
etc

[cinder3076]

Ok thanks never thought about them being short staffed as we are a village and I dont know if we have our won 911 or if it goes to a local 911 out in another area then they dispatch for here. I have no clue I am new to the area guess I will find these things out in time. Thanks for your response.

[Hockey9019]

Also it may seem like it is taking forever due to the stress of the incident you are calling on.

[CheesyHat]

Using my cell phone to call 911 once (to report a drunk driver), the 911 operator quickly answered and brought up the municipality's police desk number and dialed it for me.. I guess it depends on where you are and how you are dialing, because my cell provider is pretty damn quick.

[JBU2010]

Usually we are just really really busy..and yes it does depend on your location. Just remain patient and be prepared to give out the necessary information. We know they are emergency lines, so they are given a higher priority.

Sorry for the long ring time..

[hitnrun]

Using my cell phone to call 911 once (to report a drunk driver), the 911 operator quickly answered and brought up the municipality's police desk number and dialed it for me.. I guess it depends on where you are and how you are dialing, because my cell provider is pretty damn quick.

In CA, when you dial 911 on a cell phone, it goes through to CHP and from there, they will advise for you or transfer you to a local agency depending on the type of call.

[cinder3076]

OK this is weird you all say you can dial 911 from your cellphone. I am in upstate ny and have a maryland cellphone number and can't seem to have it connect for some reason I get a funky sound then nothing happens. I am seeing about transferring my phone to the state I live in in the near furture so if something were to happen and I needed 911 I dont get a dead no ring no nothing when calling.

[Jay7376]

I do not believe that the "home" location of the cell phone makes a difference. It all depends on which cell tower the phone is using at the time.

I work in Michigan along the Lake Michigan shoreline and it is not uncommon for a person on the beach to call 911 and get a dispatch center in Wisconsin.

[fatboyjim154]

I think you can dial 112 also. I'm pretty sure it's an internationally used number.

Jim

[Jay7376]

What is 112?

[MrJim911]

I think you can dial 112 also. I'm pretty sure it's an internationally used number.

Jim

No, 112 will not work in the US. 112 is Europe only. 911 is the only number that should be used in the US from cell phones.

Also, it does not matter what state you reside in or where you got the cell phone. If your 911 call from your cell is not going through there is a multitude of factors that could be causing that; such as a technical problem with the cell phone, no towers nearby to catch a signal, technical problems with the cell tower, busy 911 center with no rollover technology in place when they get inundated with calls, etc..

What is 112?

112 in Europe is what 911 is here.

[Citicop]

No, 112 will not work in the US. 112 is Europe only. 911 is the only number that should be used in the US from cell phones...

112 in Europe is what 911 is here.

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[madsnax]

When we received a 911 call from a cell phone, the information we got was a the number that called us, and then we could figure out about where the call came from, via this triangulation program.

[MDEMT280]

When I was dispatching, we were just starting to see the Phase 2 phones coming out. Every now and then, a cell call would come in and the ANI/ALI would actually have the number and the address of the cell tower it was hitting on. Most calls had 911-0000 in the ANI field and nothing in the ALI. I hear it's a lot more sophisticated, now. :D