Legislative changes will help cut down on false 911 calls and help the province’s emergency services better respond to emergencies.
“The Provincial 911 Service handles on average 30,000 calls every year,” said Premier MacLauchlan. “We respect and appreciate the hard work and dedication of our first responders on Prince Edward Island and government is committed to exploring all possible options to ensure they are provided tools that can help improve emergency service delivery for all residents on PEI.”
“Making a false or frivolous 911 call is a serious crime that needlessly engages vital emergency resources which may mean that someone in serious danger may not be able to get the help they need,” said RCMP Commanding Officer, Chief Superintendent Joanne Crampton. “These important amendments to the Emergency 911 Act will help our first responders do their jobs – and could potentially save lives.”
Cabinet this week approved the changes, which require private alarm companies to send their calls directly to local emergency services rather than routing them through the provincial 911 system. This change will help reduce the number of false alarm calls being directed to 911 and formalize a policy that has been in place since September 2011, which is an industry standard across the country.
It also grants law enforcement the authority to issue summary offense tickets to those who knowingly place false or frivolous 911 calls. Violating this provision will carry a penalty of up to $500.
In addition, the changes amend the Emergency 911 Act to require a resident or municipality to change an address, road name, or sign if it is deemed a public safety issue. For details on civic address or private road sign specifications, contact the 911 Administration Office at (902) 894-0385 or refer to the act regulations at www.gov.pe.ca/law/regulations/pdf/E&05-1G.pdf.