ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, February 20, 1997 TAG: 9702200046
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-9 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: WASHINGTON
SOURCE: Associated Press
The government is setting aside 311 as the telephone number for people to call police or other local agencies for nonemergency help.
Millions of people call 911 each year, but the Justice Department says most of those calls in many communities are for situations that are not emergencies, such as noisy neighbors or lost pets.
Wednesday's 311 allocation by the Federal Communications Commission responds to a request from President Clinton last July. To help combat crime, Clinton asked the agency to designate a number for community policing and other nonemergency calls. That number, he said, would take pressure off the 911 emergency calling system.
Available for use nationwide, the 311 code could improve the effectiveness of 911 service by cutting down the number of calls made to it, the FCC said. In Los Angeles alone, 325,000 callers to 911 hung up two years ago because the jammed line denied them immediate help.
``The 311 nonemergency number will alleviate the present burden on 911 and at the same time better serve the American people,'' Attorney General Janet Reno predicted.
The FCC's action does not require local governments to use 311 but ensures the number will be available if they choose to.
Baltimore instituted 311 service in October.
LENGTH: Short : 35 linesby CNB