False 9-1-1 Calls Could Get Fines in Florham Park

Florham Park residents making false 911 calls could soon find themselves paying dearly for their pranks.

An ordinance establishing fees for unintentional or false calls to 911 is up for a hearing and vote at Thursday's Florham Park Borough Council meeting.

"For various reasons, false 911 calls have become an increasing problem in the borough of Florham Park," the ordinance reads in part. Emergency personnel respond to each call, which costs money and "dilutes the borough's ability to respond to legitimate emergencies."

If the ordinance passes at second reading, any false 911 calls made by "human error, equipment malfunctions or equipment programming" will be fined at the following proposed rate:

Another ordinance, up for final adoption at the council meeting Thursday, will reappropriate $64,917.42 for road and sidewalk improvements along several borough roads.

The funds were originally part of a bond ordinance for road reconstruction and the replacement of a compactor and the retaining wall at the borough's recycling center, but were ultimately not needed.

The Borough Council meets at 7 p.m. at the Florham Park Municipal Building.