Potential for multi-car pileup at highway speeds=immediate response.

That is actually good to know. I was weighing the harm of a car hitting it (bad but it'd hurt the car and not likely people and probably thus not a 911 call) to a motorcycle (badddddd) but I just didn't want to overstress a system that was hard hit already.

Now I know and have other numbers programmed.

I did call in a really dangerous driver on the 5N in Washington once and they'd had a lot of calls but I could give them good information, so I really value the service. I just don't want to abuse it.

They really were likely weeding out the butt dial but I didn't want to *say* emergency until I was certain...

Then I stay in PDX all week, because I'm taking the work laptop and can work remotely. Then next Friday, MCR concert!

Welcome to my lair...

NYC has 311 for non-emergency info and its the best thing in the world.

First of all, they're amazingly helpful. Second, they'll toss you to 911 when you end up in that "I'm not sure" sitch.

NYC has 311 for non-emergency info and its the best thing in the world.

I really was wishing I knew what the PDX version of this was... Because it wasn't a huge emergency (okay, it could have been and now I know) but it really could turn into one. Yay numbers...

Portland keeps saying it is setting up a 311 system but it still hasn't materialized. They even set aside part of our operations floor specifically for 311 set up...but it didn't happen. *sad face* we're trained to set up police, fire, and medical calls and for basic referrals (animal control, evictions, contact numbers for the jail...) not to answer lots of legalese questions about complex civil situations. 9 months of training does NOT=law degree.

I assumed it was really complicated. But I am sorry they stress you out. Because, really, I don't expect people answering emergency calls to answer civil or logistical stuff. I think a lot of people don't understand what Emergency means.

Then again... I didn't. So it happens.

We also handle all the non-emergency calls. Those are the ones that make me wish for a 311 of our very own. Most people figure any kind of problem with another person = police intervention, but our police bureau refuses to go on certain kinds of civil situations[1]. It totally sucks to have to say "i can't help with you that, and i don't know who can. you can try calling this number or look into getting a lawyer, but police can't help you with that problem...." because that is never the answer anyone wants.

I just wannna take all the priority calls where i can help people and have another agency (like this mythical 311) deal with the long stories.

[1] eta: disclaimer: this is only for MY police. I hear tell there are other places where you if call 911 or the police non-emer line with any niggly issue, a cop shows up at your door. We essentially screen calls for officers.

It totally sucks to have to say "i can't help with you that, and i don't know who can. you can try calling this number or look into getting a lawyer, but police can't help you with that problem...." because that is never the answer anyone wants.

Oh, absolutely. I didn't try to make my call an emergency partially because I didn't want you, or someone like you, to be forced to deal with it. It needed an officer set out, but not full 911 response. Ugh.

Now I wish I'd stayed on the line because I hope no one was injured. But it was just something needing attention, not an emergency.

Pete heartily endorses me staying w/ Cass for a week

Go Pete! That's a very good husband you have.

Oh Jilli! Pass along to Pete that I adore the coffee vendor he recommended. So good! Brightest spot in my morning routine.

Go Pete! That's a very good husband you have.

He's awesome. And I promise to take very good care of Jilli here.

The bad bit in it is that I get less time with Pete. But I am invading his home to make up for it next weekend.

Re Scott Adams, I've been scornful of his opinions for many a year, since he announced that he sometimes makes predictions that have a way of coming true, and one of his predictions is that the theory of evolution will be overturned sometime in the 21st century.

This quote is of course plumbing far greater depths of what I would like to call the Gibson-Sheen Abyss.