ROANOKE TIMES

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, April 21, 1994                   TAG: 9404210238
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-3   EDITION: STATE 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                LENGTH: Short


CAPITOL HOT LINE CALLS WIND UP AT PHONE SEX LINE

Claude Seymour wanted a hot line to legislators at the state Capitol. Instead he got ``the hottest line in America.''

A mix-up Wednesday sent Seymour to a telephone sex line instead of an 800-number set up by the Virginia General Assembly to log citizen comments.

A call to the number elicited music and a breathy, female voice.

``I thought, 'Is this somebody's idea of a joke, or what?' '' said Seymour, a photographer from Fairfax County.

It happened like this: State officials disconnected the 800 number after the legislature's two-month session ended in March. Callers heard a recording referring them to an information number at the Capitol instead.

Except instead of an 800 area code, the Capitol line requires Richmond's 804 area code, said Aubrey Stewart, telecommunications coordinator for the House of Delegates. The recording did not specify an area code.

- Associated Press



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