Poll: 911 Text Messaging

[Tech Team FTW!]

You can already text the police, it isn't hard.

The first ever crime that was solved by a text message was in Italy, when a shopkeep noticed a number of susppicious men outside his shop. He took a picture of them on his camera phone and sent it ot the Italian para-military police (I forget the actual name). It turned out the men were wanted for robbery and they were arrested shortly after the police recieved the texted image.

 

[Erana]

You can already text the police, it isn't hard.

The first ever crime that was solved by a text message was in Italy, when a shopkeep noticed a number of susppicious men outside his shop. He took a picture of them on his camera phone and sent it ot the Italian para-military police (I forget the actual name). It turned out the men were wanted for robbery and they were arrested shortly after the police recieved the texted image.

Interesting....

Still, If it were implimented elsewhere, they should pay attention to every, "911" and suggest texting even just one letter to indicate the type of emergency. Yeah, firemen would still have to respond to medical stuff, but ya know.

 

[Willwillwritehiswill]

jst been stabbed rofl tb xoxoxoxox

 

[FinalGamer]

It would be helpful, and consider also the people who can't even hear, the deaf people who HAVE to use text.

 

[retro himself]

I think it would be helpful if 911 (Police) had an ability so you could text them instead of calling in. For example what if you were choking and couldn't talk? Or if someone broke into your house and you don't want to give up your location? I personally think it would be a great thing to do country wide. (Sorry if they already have this and I'm just plain clueless.)

If you were choking, you really wouldn't have the time to write a text message explaining everything you need to explain. That applies to just about any critical situation in which you need to get 911 fast.

 

[retro himself]

jst been stabbed rofl tb xoxoxoxox

This

 

[ryai458]

You wouldn't just text in and say "I need help" you would probably have to state the situation and tell them where you are.

But that would take forever. Txting is a lot slower than talking. You might as well just dial 911.

Lol but my point is what if you couldn't talk. Like if you were choking.

if you were choking you would be dead in 5 minutes way before any emergency respnders could arrive

 

[ElephantGuts]

But what if someone breaks into your house with a gun and you're hiding in the closet and you don't want to talk and let him know you're there? Or any similar situation where someone's trying to hurt you and you're hiding and can't safely talk?

That, plus if your phone is broken and you can't talk on it or if you have bad service, makes 911 texting a good idea. But not for all situations, obviously. If there's no reason you can't, it's easier to just call them.

 

[Gizmo]

So you want me to whip out my phone and start texting while i'm getting shot at when i can call and run with my head up straight? =/

 

[magicmonkeybars]

it would only be usefull in a situation when not speaking is prefered like being kidnapped or during a bank robbery.

 

[Eagle Est1986]

Well when you phone up, the operator needs to ask you a bunch of questions, to gain more information about the situation, so I don't think a text message alone would be good enough.

 

[BardSeed]

Could be useful for mutes(am I meant to call them vocally challenged or something?). How exactly do they contact the police?

 

[Archaon6044]

i think it could be beneficial, although if you're in immediate danger of death/dismemberment etc etc, then it migh tbe better to give them a ring

 

[I Stomp on Kittens]

Thats not a bad idea actually! This allso help if you are in an area with bad connection. ( a forest, basement), or if you have a broken cellphone, and other cant hear you.

or if you are hiding from a "bad guy" or something

 

[Rajin Cajun]

You wouldn't just text in and say "I need help" you would probably have to state the situation and tell them where you are.

But that would take forever. Txting is a lot slower than talking. You might as well just dial 911.

Lol but my point is what if you couldn't talk. Like if you were choking.

You'd be dead by the time the text was finished. Didn't think that one through did you?

It takes too long and they'd get all sorts of vague texts like, "lol sum1 jst set my house on fire. can u com get teh guy for me and arest him? k thx PS. fix ma house pls?".

911 text messaging = bad idea

This made me laugh pretty hard. Seriously texting is just stupid in a case of emergency. Honestly do you really think you are going to be able to text fast enough not to choke to death? God the Humanity....cull the genepool now.

 

[ThrobbingEgo]

Someone breaks in to a house.

Faintly: Beep beep. Beeeeep. Bleep. "They're hiding in the bathtub!"

You know you can just dial 911, hang up, and they send everything, right?

 

[UltimatheChosen]

You wouldn't just text in and say "I need help" you would probably have to state the situation and tell them where you are.

But that would take forever. Txting is a lot slower than talking. You might as well just dial 911.

Lol but my point is what if you couldn't talk. Like if you were choking.

If you call in and can't talk, they come to the scene anyways. They know that's a possibility.

 

[Ursus Astrorum]

"OMG HALP hes in mai hous riflin' through my things get police pl0x kthxbai"

Yeah... No.

 

[IHaveNoCoolness]

Even if it's a moderatley good idea, what's the point?

The second you call dial the number, they start tracing the call. Even in these far fetched situations like choking where you have the ability to text, but not to forcibly dislodge the blockage from your throat or find someone else to OR hiding in a closet from a murderer, dialing 911 and dropping the phone on the floor is just as effective. They'll track the call and dispatch all 3 emergency services immediatley.

What's the point? If you can't speak, you just dial 911 anyway and they'll show up. You don't need to say anything on the phone, you just need to dial the number... texting just gives another way for people to crank call them.

 

[Contun]

Well, In some cases it may prove useful, like if you're not trying to be seen or trying to remain quiet....