9-1-1 Misdials Could Carry Fine in Florham Park

The Florham Park Borough Council has introduced an ordinance that sets fees for people who accidentally call 9-1-1, such as employees who use company phone systems where they press "9" to dial out and accidentally reach a police dispatcher.

Police Chief Patrick P. Montuore said he worked with officials to develop the proposed law.

It's not meant to generate revenue, but to give police a tool when talking with businesses where such misdials are a recurring problem, he said.

The law also sets a fine of up to a $1,250 or imprisonment for up to 90 days, or both, as punishment for intentional false 9-1-1 calls.

"Each false call requires response by emergency response personnel, involves unnecessary expenses to the Borough and dilutes the Borough's ability to respond to legitimate emergencies," according to the ordinance, which was presented by Councilman Charles Germershausen.

Police always work to establish good relationships with businesses and discuss the misdial issue when it comes up, but in talking about it, authorities never had a law on the books they could point to, Montuore said.

The proposal specifies fees for "unintentional calls to 9-1-1 made due to human error, equipment malfunctions, or equipment programming." Fines kick in the fourth time it happens in a calendar year.

The first three times it happens accidentally, there's no fee.

Times four and five come with a $250 fine. The fines subsequently increase to $375 for call six, $500 for seven, $625 for eight, $800 for nine, and $1,000 for the 10th unintentional call and each misdial after that.

The proposal is up for a public hearing and vote at the Borough Council meeting scheduled for 7 p.m. Oct. 18 in the municipal building, 111 Ridgedale Ave.