QUESTION:
Will dialing 1-1-2 direct you to the police to let them know you will not be pulling over until you reach a safe place?
ANSWER:
We can verify this claim is false. However, dialing 1-1-2 will direct you to 9-1-1.
PROCESS:
A post is making its way on social media claiming that if you're pulled over by a police officer who you might suspect is an imposter, you can dial 1-1-2 to let police know you're not pulling over until you get to a safe place.
This claim is false. However, dialing 1-1-2 is real.
1-1-2 is the 9-1-1 of Europe. So, basically a lot of cell phone providers in the U.S. will forward any call to 1-1-2 and it'll automatically be forwarded to 9-1-1.
"The number to call in the United States for access to emergency services is 9-1-1. Some carriers automatically translate the 1-1-2 number, which is the emergency number in many European countries to 9-1-1 here in the US. Some do not. It is a wireless carrier’s business decision to do that on their network. The Office of Unified Communications, which provides 9-1-1 service in the District of Columbia has no ability to track calls from any other number other than 9-1-1 because it is converted at the carrier network level. That’s why we urge everyone in need of emergency services to call 9-1-1 directly," said Alan Etter with Office of Unified Communication.
SOURCES:
- Alan Etter, Office of Unified Communication
- Trey Forgety, Director of Government Affairs
RESOURCES:
