What happens when I accidentally call 9-1-1 and hang up?
If you call from a landline phone, your address and phone number automatically appears in the automatic number / location identification (ANI/ALI) system. You will receive a call back from our dispatch center to verify that everything is okay. If you fail to answer the phone, a police officer will be sent to your address to make sure everyone is alright.

If you call from a cell phone, your location and phone number may or may not appear in the ANI/ALI system, depending on your cell phone carrier and what type of cell phone you have. That is why it is extremely important to provide your location and phone number immediately when you call 9-1-1 from a cell phone. In most cases when you call 9-1-1 from a cell phone and hang up, the line will still ring in dispatch and show your phone number. In that case the dispatcher will call you back and to verify that everything is okay.

Show All Answers

1. How do I know if a situation warrants calling 9-1-1?
2. If I’m in doubt about whether to call or not, should I still call?
3. What if I call 9-1-1 by mistake?
4. What happens when I accidentally call 9-1-1 and hang up?
5. What are the costs of unnecessary 9-1-1 calls?
6. How can people who are deaf or speech/hearing-impaired call 9-1-1?
7. How can a non-English speaker use 9-1-1?
8. Can I call 9-1-1 from a pay phone?
9. When I called 9-1-1, why did the dispatcher ask me all of those questions? All I needed was an ambulance?
10. I called 9-1-1 for an ambulance and I got a fire truck and an ambulance. Why did you send me a fire truck too?
11. Why do they send the police even when I called back and told them everything was okay?
12. When I call 9-1-1, why do I get someone different every time? Once, I had to tell my story three times in one night.
13. Why does it take so long for an officer to respond to my call?
14. Why does the operator keep asking me questions? If they would just send the police, they would find out all they need to know.
15. Why won't they let me talk to a police officer when I call?
16. Why won't they tell me what's going on when I call?
17. How does the 9-1-1 Call taker know my address?
18. What do you mean you don't have my address, don't you have Caller ID? Doesn't my information show up?
19. What if I don't know where I am?
20. Why does it take so long to get a dispatcher to answer when I'm calling 9-1-1 or the 935-5551 non-emergency number?
21. Why does the dispatcher hang up on me when I call to report a serious situation?
22. Why are Dispatchers so abrupt with callers?
23. Why doesn't an officer show up when I call in a situation that is in progress?
24. Why does my cell phone call 9-1-1 by accident?
25. Who pays for 9-1-1?
26. What is the difference between Basic 9-1-1 and Enhanced 9-1-1 Service?
27. How is the Wireless 9-1-1 Service being implemented?
28. How many calls are made to 9-1-1 annually?