Fake 911 Class Can Be
Costly
A legislative commission
is study the possibility
of imposing a ˘220.000
colones (us$435) fine
for making false calls
to the 911 emergency
service.
The current fine is
˘55.000 colones (us$108)
against the owner of the
telephone line if less
than 10 false calls and
double that amount when
more than 10 false calls
are registered.
The fine is added to the
telephone bill and if
unpaid the owner of the
line may lose it.
The proposal before the
omisión de Asuntos
Sociales is to fine
˘55.000 colones for less
than five false calls,
˘110.000 colones for six
to ten false calls and
˘220.000 for more than
10 false calls.
Luis Fernando Alfaro
Ubico, legal advisor to
the 911, said that 80%
of the calls received
are not emergencies,
many of the calls being
pranks or reports of
fake emergencies. Alfaro
added that some of the
calls are made in error.
The revenue from the
increase fines will go
towards purchasing more
equipment and
maintenance of the
service, said Alfaro.
According to official
figures, the 911 service
charges between 50 and
100 fines per month,
meaning some ˘60 million
colones (us$118.000) in
revenue. |
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