911 Abuse Fines?

Proposed fines for 911 abuse in Shelby County (Tenn.) have one sticking point–it would turn the dispatchers into law enforcement personnel with the authority to determine what calls are legtimate and which aren’t. County commissioners are considering a first-time fine of $25, and $50 for subsequent offenses. The sheriff’s comm center handles about 6,000 calls to 911 each month, but officials say about one-third of those are pranks or inappropriate calls. Commissioner Wyatt Bunker suggested a process of fines, but also an appeals process for citizens. The commissioners are now waiting for the results–if any–of a public education campaign before deciding on whether to impose the fines.