Posted by SueW/Tn on 3/20/06 12:07pm
Msg #107013

Can anyone verify this? O/T & N/M

MUST KNOW *677

>

> I knew about the red light on cars, but not the *677. It was about

1:00

> p.m. in the afternoon, and Lauren was driving to visit a friend. An

> UNMARKED police car pulled up behind her and put his lights on.

> *Lauren's parents have always told them never to pull over for an

> unmarked car on the side of the road, but rather to wait until they

get

> to a gas station, etc. *

>

> Lauren had actually listened to her parents advice, and promptly

called

> 677 on her cell phone to tell the police dispatcher that she would

not

> pull over right away. She proceeded to tell the dispatcher that there

> was an unmarked police car with a flashing red light on his rooftop

> behind her. The dispatcher checked to see if there were police cars

> where she and there weren't, and he told her to keep driving, remain

> calm and that he had
back up already on the w ay.
>
> Ten minutes later 4 cop cars surrounded her and the unmarked car
behind
> her. One policeman went to her side and the others surrounded the
car
behind.
> They pulled the guy from the car and tackled him to the ground. The
man
> was a convicted rapist and wanted for other crimes.
>
> I never knew about ! the *677 Cell Phone Feature, but especially for
a
> woman alone in a car, you should not pull over for an unmarked car.
> Apparently police have to respect your right to keep going to a safe
&
> quiet; place. You obviously need to make some signals that you
> acknowledge them (i.e. put on your hazard lights) or call *677 like
> Lauren did.
>
> Too bad the cell phone companies don't generally give you this little
> bit of wonderful information.
>
> *Speaking to a service representative at **Bell** Mobility confirmed
>
that *677 was a direct link to OPP Dispatch. So, now it's your turn
to
> let your friends know about *677.
>

Reply by Pat/IL on 3/20/06 12:27pm
Msg #107018

Per Snopes.com, the urban legend website, you appear to have the 2004 version of a story they trace to Virginia in 2002. According to the site, *677 is the number to the Ontario Provincial Police and is used in the Canadian version of the story. The Virginia version used *77.

Snopes does not make a determination as to the authenticity of the story. It states that *77 will connect you to police in some areas but is not universal. Hope it helps.

Reply by PAW on 3/20/06 12:49pm
Msg #107025

Some states use *SP (*77) for cell phone to call the State Police. Some use other codes, like *FHP (*347), Florida Highway Patrol or #SP (#77) for Virgina State Police.

However, with cell phones, 911 will work if you feel your life is in danger. And with the newer cell phones, the 911 Enhanced service will be able to locate you as well.