North Bay's Police Chief is hoping a new step forward by a city council in the GTA may help send a message to the public about nuisance 911 calls.
Just recently Peel Region Council voted to explore the possibility of issuing fines for nuisance 911 calls.
According to Peel Region Council, police in that area claim 40 per cent of their 911 calls are not legitimate.
However, North Bay's Chief says that number is over 50 per cent of calls are not legitimate 911 calls according to North Bay statistics from 2023.
"I am just encouraged that someone other than emergency services is actually looking at the cost of 911 calls for service that are not necessary in our community as an expense to the taxpayer," said Tod after Tuesday's monthly police board meeting at North Bay Police headquarters.
Tod says many residents do not understand what a 911 call can trigger.
"The 911 calls for service are the most emergent calls that we will take within the police service and they activate the greatest number of services within the workplace; our dispatchers, our platoon commanders, shift sergeants, all our members on shifts when 911 calls are received there is a potential that all of them may be activated including additional resources and other police services along with other services like Fire and paramedics," said Tod.
See related: 911 calls still a problem for North Bay Police
In a time when police services and councils are looking for ways to cut down on costs, maybe issuing fines will help offset some of that wasted time or discourage callers from typing 911 when it's not necessary.
"So a 911 call has the potential to create a great expense in terms of the emergency services workers, yet we receive so many calls for service in the 911 system that are not truly 911 calls," said Tod.
"There is no urgency or emergent matter involved in the call that the caller can articulate."
Tod cannot put a finger on why so many people choose to call 911 without good reason.
"I don't think it is a lack of education, I think it is a lack of understanding," Tod said.
"The fact is what is emergent to you could be different to what is emergent and urgent to me."
