do you think people who abuse emergency numbers should face punishment?

Question

some emergency services can receive 300+ calls in their 12hr shift from the same person, they have to answer even when the calls aren't an emergency (like wanting to order pizza or an ambulance to take them home). this obviously takes time and resources away from answering actual emergency calls which causes a delay emergency services being dispatched.                    should people who call es obsessively face punishment as a deterrent? If so how? should they receive a fine, if it continues a few days in prison, community service, something else?                                   Does your opinion change if the person calling has mental health problems? should they still face punishment, or could that be used as an excuse for others to use?

Accepted Answer

People who make prank calls/stupid calls to emergency numbers should be fined.

Answer

It's illegal to call 911 when it's not an emergency in a lot of places

Answer

Maybe it could be two warnings and then a fine or something 🤷‍♀️ honestly I've never really thought about this, but pocket calls do happen and it wouldn't be fair to charge some one for an honest mistake, every single time.

Answer

No, absolutely not. As annoying as it is that people abuse these numbers, punishment should be avoided because it could deter people from calling in legit situations, or punish people who call in instances like wild animals loose in a place, etc.

Answer

Well, they CAN get fined, its just the police usually have better things to do. 
while i dont want people wasting resources by calling 911 in unwarranted situations... i dont want resources FURTHER wasted by an officer having to deal with the caller.

Answer

You all want the fine until your kid calls the police and you have to pay

Answer

A paramedic once told me someone called the ambulance to ask them to change the channel before, another person to turn on the fan, and another person because they couldn’t sleep and wanted to see if the ambulance could help them sleep.
I’ve heard of others who call pretending to have disorders they don’t, hoping for drugs and/or treatment for illnesses that they don’t suffer from. All of this makes it difficult for emergency services to get to people who genuinely need them, however SO much could be going on with these people that’s more than “prank calling” or time wasting. Like loneliness, mental health, a genuine lack of knowledge on handling every day discomfort, it could be so many things. To say outright “yes, punish them” is ignoring the fact that every case is different.

Answer

Yes.
To my knowledge it is illegal. 
I have a neighbor who filed a false police report about me, and the officer told me that if this weapon does it again the PD will take action against them. 
I think a hefty fine, then if it continues possible jail time.

Answer

Yes, people who *abuse* emergency services should be punished. If someone has a mental illness that prevents them from grasping the difference between a “real” emergency and a not-so-real emergency, they shouldn’t be punished - just as a child dialing to practice or because they don’t know better shouldn’t be punished. Pocket dialers shouldn’t be punished either. Give a warning first, then a fine, then jail time. You’re taking the spot of someone who needs actual help and potentially killing another person.

Answer

Isn't this already a law? I thought it was in the US at least.

do you think people who abuse emergency numbers should face punishment?

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