A R C H I V E S
| Cell Phone Advice! |
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| a_Silver_Rose |
| 05/15/03 at 00:23:58 |
| [slm] I got this via email from members of dawah council of the masjid. [center][color=Red]: Cell Phone Advice > > > > > > FOR ALL WITH CELL PHONES > > > > Subject: Safety Issue: Cell Phone Feature #77 > > > > Cell Phone Feature #77 on your cell phone. I never even knew >about this >#77 > > feature! > > > > This actually happened to someone's daughter. Lauren was 19 yrs >old and in > > college. This story takes place over the Christmas/New Year's >holiday > > break. > > It was the Saturday before New Year's and it was about 1 PM in >the > > afternoon, and Lauren was driving to visit a friend. > > > > An UNMARKED police car pulled up behind her and put his lights >on. > > > > Lauren's parents have 4 children (high school and college age) >and have > > always told them never to pull over for an unmarked car on the >side of the > > road, but rather wait until they get to a gas station, etc. So >Lauren had > > actually listened to her parents advice, and promptly called #77 >on her >cell > > phone to tell the police dispatcher that she would not pull over >right >away. > > She proceeded to tell the dispatcher that there was an unmarked >police car > > with a flashing red light on his rooftop behind her. > > > > The dispatcher checked to see if there was a police car where she >was and > > there wasn't and he told her to keep driving, remain calm and >that he had > > back-up already on the way. Ten minutes later 4 cop cars >surrounded her >and > > the unmarked car behind her. One policeman went to her side and >the >others > > surrounded the car behind. They pulled the guy from the car and >tackled >him > > to the ground..........the man was a convicted rapist and wanted >for other > > crimes. > > > > I never knew that bit of advice, but especially for a woman alone >in a >car, > > you should not pull over for an unmarked car. > > > > Apparently police have to respect your right to keep going to a >"safe" > > place. > > You obviously need to make some signals that you acknowledge >them (i.e., > > put > > on your hazard lights) or call #77 like Lauren did. Too bad the >cell >phone > > companies don't give you this little bit of wonderful >information. So now > > it's your turn to let your friends know about #77. > > > > This is good information that I did not know!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! > > > > Please pass on to any females that you know.... Males, tell your >wives & > > daughters... and all friends.... > > [/color][/center] |
| Re: Cell Phone Advice! |
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| jannah |
| 05/15/03 at 00:28:19 |
| [wlm] We should verify before we forward.. Should be a new feature on emails... Cell Phone Emergencies: #77 First published April, 2002 There is an e-mail circulating that claims that everyone should be aware of a little known emergency cell phone number: #77. Actually, the e-mail gives an account of a someone's daughter who was saved by knowing this number which connected them to the local highway patrol or sheriff's office and help was dispatched immediately to apprehend a dangerous criminal stalking their daughter. This may well be true, and I couldn't verify this one way or another. However, the particulars of the story are not that important. What does matter is whether the advice is sound. I'm here to say that it is only sound in a few states in the nation. Otherwise, #77 gets you nowhere. In fact, as we speak 911 will only work in some places and so far no emergency cell phone number is able to locate you for the emergency workers (police, fire, EMS crews) unless you tell them over the phone where you are. In the e-mail the driver never really tells the dispatcher where she is, but this may have been left out of the story. There are various emergency numbers for cell phones in different states ( they don't all connect directly to a highway patrol or police station). For example in Louisiana and Mississippi you dial *HP, in Missouri and Oklahoma you dial *55, and in Iowa there is no short number so you have to call 1-800-555-HELP. Due to a federal law signed under President Clinton all of these will have to convert to 911 and only 911. Further, there is suppose to be a way to pinpoint your position within a few hundred yards when you dial this emergency number from a cell phone. However, so far not even half the states have converted to 911 only, and the ability to locate anyone on a cell phone when they call the emergency number is still an unrealized dream for the future. Interestingly, this e-mail gives details that let's us know that the incident in question allegedly took place in the state of Virginia. Virginia has now converted to 911, and as a result #77 which is mentioned in the e-mail may no longer be functioning. If it is still working don't count on it for too long. Even if the story was based on a real life incident it points out how the road to Hell can be paved with good intentions. This inaccurate advice could have someone counting on #77 to help them when, in fact, their state never used this number, or no longer uses it. It could put someone in a very bad position. Don't pass on stories like this unless you know with 100 percent certainty that it is true. |
| 05/15/03 at 00:30:57 |
| jannah |
| Re: Cell Phone Advice! |
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| a_Silver_Rose |
| 05/15/03 at 00:37:31 |
| Jazak Allah I will forward this info to the people who send this. |
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