Is it right if your local police department is long distance?

Question

We got a long distance block on our phone to prevent people from running our phone bill through the roof. The problem is: Even our local police department is long distance from our house! So if we have to call the police, we have to dial 911 because we won't be able to call the sheriff's department sense its long distance! The State police isn't long distance, but often times the state will refer me back to the county. They are nice enough to transfer me to the county, but I don't wanna bother these guys when I need to be getting to my local police department. These men and women put their lives on the line for us, and I respect them. I just wish they had a better system for communicating!

Answer 1

When you call 911 you'll most likely be getting the same people at your local PD that would answer if you called the 7 digit non-emergency number. If they ask why you are calling 911 for a non-emergency explain to them the long distance call block on your phone service, they will understand. If it's an emergency you have nothing to worry about.

Answer 2

there is a difference on whether you are simply carrying contraband or whether you actually use the contraband while on board. no, amtrak crew and ticket clerks are not specifically checking for contraband. however, if it is seen being used or transported, then of course it will be confiscated and authorities will be called to remove you from the train or the station. if there is behaviour that gives an employee suspicion, such as smoke smell, stoner's eyes, beligerent behaviour, etc, we can again call authorities to remove you from a train or from a station. amtrak police, as well as DEA, ATF, state police, etc, can board trains for checking, they frequently have drug dogs with them. albuquerque is a great place where they check people on board, as the train has to be refueled there and they do window washing and trash removal too, so for 20 mins or so that the train is there, officers frequently check that train out. but other cities may have that too. mind you, the amtrak police are a different group of people than the conductor or ticket clerk. any contraband or illegal activity on a train, as others have pointed out, can result in the conductor calling ahead to either the next station to the ticket clerk for police, or even to just the next town's police, to meet the train at the depot or at a street crossing to remove someone from a train. it sounds like you are going to do whatever illegal thing you are planning on anyway, in spite of what we say. but i would recommend 1, that you not do it,or 2, keep the stuff packed away until you get to where you are going. if you choose option 3, to use stuff while on the train, you might have some unpleasant experience if you are caught and removed from the train by some police force en route, perhaps in the middle of nowheresville.

Answer 3

The state guys won't mind transferring you. Just call them up and explain the situation to them. They won't answer the phone if they are too busy. They are only obligated to answer emergency calls.

Answer 4

In an emergency, spend the buck.

Answer 5

No. You should be able to access emergency phone calls at no cost to you. I pay extra money (without my consent to have people access these services).