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Subject: Good advice and the importance of cell # *677
Here's an excerpt from an e-mail we received from a friend recently. . . .
"I knew about the red light on unmarked police cars, but not the *677. It was about 1 PM in the afternoon, and Lauren was driving to visit a friend. An UNMARKED police car pulled up behind her and put his lights on. Lauren's parents have 4 children (high school and college age) and have always told them never to pull over for an unmarked car on the side of the road, but rather wait until they get a gas station, etc. Lauren had actually listened to her parents advice, and promptly called *677 on her cell phone to tell the police dispatcher that she would not pull over right away. She proceeded to tell the dispatcher that there was an unmarked police car with a flashing red light on his rooftop behind her. The dispatcher checked to see if there were police cars where she was and there weren't, and he told her to keep driving, remain calm and that he had back up already on the way. Ten minutes later 4 cop cars surrounded her and the unmarked car behind her. One policeman went to her side and the others surrounded the car behind. They pulled the guy from the car and tackled him to the ground. The man was a convicted rapist and wanted for other crimes.
I never knew about the *677 Cell Phone Feature, but especially for a woman alone in a car, you should not pull over for an unmarked car. Apparently police have to respect your right to keep going to a "safe" place. You obviously need to make some signals that you acknowledge them (i.e. put on your hazard lights) or call *677 like Lauren did.
Too bad the cell phone companies don't generally give you this little bit of wonderful information."
Footnote: Our friend apparently spoke to a local Ontario service representative at **Bell** Mobility and confirmed that *677 was a direct link to OPP (Ontario Provincial Police) Dispatch.
Posts: 2359 | From: Waterloo, Ontario, Canada | Registered: Jul 2001
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WOOOOOHOOOOOOOO !!!!!! Very Cool !!!!! I wish they had that here in the states but I guess 911 would do just about the same. Great story and thanks for sharing with teriffic advice. Posts: 2841 | From: Westland, MI | Registered: Apr 2003
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In NY, they no longer use "unmarked" cars for this reason.
All patrol cars are fully stickered. They run with strobes and no lightbar instead.
Posts: 2441 | From: Chester, NY | Registered: Feb 2000
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There are still many unmarked cars around here-especially the Tro F-cars. I've always said I would nevert pull over for some of them-no exterior markings, all lights mounted inside the car.
Posts: 1163 | From: Rochester Hills, Mi | Registered: Feb 2000
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Lots of unmarked around here. Including, B4C`s Crown Vics, F150`s, Dodge Ram`s, Chysler 300`s, Chev Impalas, Dodge Mini Vans, and more I probably have not seen.
That`s great advice John.
-------------------- Hawkeye: SSOA F98-C98
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Wife & Best Friend Mary - copilot. Posts: 5558 | From: Windsor, Ontario. Canada | Registered: Feb 2000
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Good info and here you can dial *HP for the HP when you need them
-------------------- Willard (Mike) Scott Worldwide Camaro Club North Carolina state Rep. 2001 SS convertible with all SLP opts. Sunset Orange Neutral top Neutral leather http://community.webshots.com/user/wmss Posts: 737 | From: Siler City N.C. | Registered: Sep 2003
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Interesting background on the story. I'll pass it on to our friend who sent us the e-mail. Posts: 2359 | From: Waterloo, Ontario, Canada | Registered: Jul 2001
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