Abusing the 911 System

We’ve all heard the stories about people who dial 911 for things like not getting the right meal at a drive thru restaurant, or being angry at someone in line at the store, or simply because they are lonely. They make for funny news headlines, but these types of events are costing the taxpayers money. As the battle for healthcare rages on, this issue has been brought to the forefront.

While we often hear about the most outrageous calls to 911, the reality is that many of them are often just people upset with the medical system and looking for information. If they don’t get a response from their doctor, they dial 911. One source says half of the 911 calls in a specific “county are not really emergencies.” Calls can cost up to $500. If it turns out to be a non-emergency, this bill gets passed on to the consumer.

The way to fix these types of calls is by letting the public know just how much each one calls and what is really considered an emergency.

Image: Morguefile