Ontario woman launches petition targeting 911 Amber Alert complainers

canada-man said:

“I’ve had two or three…haters, but people seem to think like me.”

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Anyone who automatically calls someone who disagrees with them a "hater" probably isn't the brightest bulb in the pack. However, she's right about one thing: they should not be tying up emergency services to complain. Frankly, I think the way they've implemented the amber alert system is abysmal and was obviously going to result in complaints, but those complaints should be directed to the appropriate government agency, not to the people trying to save lives.

It's simple.
Change the laws so that the 911 attendant has the power to determine what is an appropriate call and what is not.
If the call is deemed inappropriate, the attendant can impose a fine directly on the offending number's phone bill.
Ya, there will be arguments... "I own the number but it wasn't me that called", etc...
Everything is already recorded, so in the event of an objection, the evidence is already there.
Maybe $500 for a first offence?

I don't have a problem with the alerts, but at 3 am after the child has been missing since 6:30 pm? lets give our heads a shake, peel has been responsible for 2 of 3, at this time frame and says so what?


Steve

I saw an article which I can't now find that said people are calling 911 to complain about ice cream trucks. How miserable a human being do you have to be to have a problem with ice cream trucks?

No the issue is the ABUSE of the Amber Alert process

Our last 3 Amber Alerts were:

1- A lost grandfather
2- A woman who lied to police (domestic dispute, no kids involved)
3- A general Alert (total violation since no info on suspect, vehicle etc, it was a lady on a bus, kids were again not involved)

4- Was an actual legit Alert (husband took kids, then killed kids plus himself)
5- An alert sent out more than 12 hours after person was missing



An Amber Alert for those who know anything about it is meant to locate abducted children who are in danger when police have a known suspect
The bullshit they keep sending is garbage and we have every right to complain

(I actually got idea to call 911 from the web but I have been sure to do so and keep them on my call as long as I can)

Teejay, I honestly hope the next time you have an emergency, you can’t get through because idiots are calling en masse to complain about amber alerts. Honestly, what are you even expecting to happen? Do you think 911 dispatchers have a big button that says “cancel alert” in front of them? Do you think they’re just gonna be like “hey guys, this one dude is annoyed by the alert and is apparently too stupid to just put his phone on silent, better shut it down!”. What do you want them to do about it? If it bothers you that much (and it shouldn’t, but I’m pretty sure you’re a sociopath), call your MPP about it. It’s a government issue. Harassing the dispatcher and tying up emergency lines doesn’t accomplish anything other than making you look like a gigantic asshole.

Calling 911 about this is stupid.
However, getting amber alerts forced on your cell phone is equally stupid.
This idiocy started when they revamped the emergency broadcast system in Canada a number of years ago.

We used to get amber alerts before, through the emergency broadcast system, but it was limited to public, over the air, broadcasts like television.
When analog TV was deprecated for digital transmissions, the Government re-vamped the system and forced telecom companies to participate in the system.
These are private networks, setup by the telecom companies, and the Government has no right inserting themselves into them.

Back in the day when the odd alert would come over the emergency broadcast system, you didn't have them also calling your landline phone as well.
This should be the same with the private cell phone networks that exist.
Limit it to TV like it always used to be.
The Government should not force people to participate in in this alert system, any more than it should force people to donate organs. In a free society, these things are voluntary not mandatory.
I should be able to choose to receive these alerts, or at least give me the option to opt out if I so wish.
Just more reasons why it's not worth having a smart phone these days.

Personally, I’d rather have the alerts on my phone than on TV. If your phone starts going off, you can just mute it. If you’re watching something on TV and an alert starts, you’re missing your show.

Grimnul said:

Personally, I’d rather have the alerts on my phone than on TV. If your phone starts going off, you can just mute it. If you’re watching something on TV and an alert starts, you’re missing your show.

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Except the TV typically isn't on when your sleeping. Many people's phones are because they use them as alarm clocks in the morning.

I use my phone as an alarm. I set it to silent while I’m asleep, the alarm still works and I don’t get woken up by amber alerts/people messaging me/etc. Honestly, this problem is basically 100% solved by just putting your phone on silent.

Limiting it to TV isn't a good solution either. How many people have cut their cable and only watch via streaming now? I did years ago, and would receive no alerts as a result. I'm also old fashioned and have no cell phone, but that's another matter.

rhuarc29 said:

Anyone who automatically calls someone who disagrees with them a "hater" probably isn't the brightest bulb in the pack.

However, she's right about one thing: they should not be tying up emergency services to complain. Frankly, I think the way they've implemented the amber alert system is abysmal and was obviously going to result in complaints, but those complaints should be directed to the appropriate government agency, not to the people trying to save lives.

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Well, she might not be as bright as as the sparkling Supernova galaxy of TERB posters, but she is doing more than all of us together.

Police are abusing the presidential alert system (the highest level possible, intended for nuclear war and natural disasters) with these amber alerts.

There’s actually a category of alerts that are specifically meant for amber alerts.. but we don’t use it!

The thing is, if it’s a SEEK SHELTER IMMEDIATELY type alert, I want to receive it. I want to be woken up for it.
A missing child? I don’t want to be woken up if I’m sleeping. Sorry, not sorry.. that’s the blunt truth.

If these alerts were sent at the proper level (and amber alerts you’re theoretically supposed to be able to disable them), then there’s no problem.

But if police abuse presidential alerts.. tit for tat people abusing 911 to complain.

It's just a petition and what do petitions do? Nothing.

Just got TWO of these bloody alerts , within 30 minutes of each other.. the first one at 3am. The second one contained exactly the same fucking information as the first one.

Are they fucking trying to piss people off? Because this is how you get people to call 911 to complain.

For fuck sake. This shouldn’t be so hard.

hedo rick said:

Just got TWO of these bloody alerts , within 30 minutes of each other.. the first one at 3am. The second one contained exactly the same fucking information as the first one.

Are they fucking trying to piss people off? Because this is how you get people to call 911 to complain.

For fuck sake. This shouldn’t be so hard.

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You're right... it shouldn't be so hard.
You can very easily disable the alert notification on your phone.
There is more than one way to do so.
Grow up and figure it out and stop fucking complaining like a whiny bitch.

hedo rick said:

Just got TWO of these bloody alerts , within 30 minutes of each other.. the first one at 3am. The second one contained exactly the same fucking information as the first one.

Are they fucking trying to piss people off? Because this is how you get people to call 911 to complain.

For fuck sake. This shouldn’t be so hard.

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How would you feel if it was your kid that was missing?

PUT. YOUR. PHONE. ON. SILENT.

It’s not hard at all. I got the alerts last night as well. They did not bother me because my phone was on silent. Yes, your alarm still works in silent mode. At this point, it’s your own fault if one of these alerts wakes you up.