# Calling the police for non-police matters? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 13, 2022, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-the-police-for-non-police-matters/967892 "2022-07-13T17:44:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2022, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-the-police-for-non-police-matters/967892/21 "2022-07-13T19:18:38Z")
There is a service on the NYS thruway operated by the DOT and funded by an insurance company that travels during peak commuter times in certain areas. This service will change tires , provide a couple of gallons of gas , jump start etc. There are only two ways to reach this service - if you belong to AAA or something similar , you call them and they will contact the service. If not, you call 911 and the police will contact the service or send a tow truck if the service is not available. ---
**Author:** ![Bonum\_Legatum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bonum_legatum/32/6183_2.png) [@Bonum\_Legatum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bonum_Legatum)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2022, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-the-police-for-non-police-matters/967892/22 "2022-07-13T19:31:27Z")
> [@Jingleheimer-Schmidt](#): > > Can people just call the police for non-police matters? Would they even show up? Or is this just a celebrity getting some perks that normal people couldn’t get? Looking at this in a broader sense: I once had a neighbor call the police for a bat in her house. The police came out to check if she was all right, but refused to chase the bat out for her. I’ve heard of a sheriff that was called from a new subdivision because “There’s a skunk that walks up our pathway every day - SHOOT IT.” That person was just told “leave the skunk alone and you’ll be left alone.” (Subtext: Darn city folk! They move to the country and then aren’t willing to live in it.) ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2022, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-the-police-for-non-police-matters/967892/23 "2022-07-13T19:36:25Z")
Some reports, referring to _TMZ_, claim that the CHP was contacted directly – presumably at [1-800-TELL-CHP](https://www.chp.ca.gov/home/contact-us) – rather than going through 911. [_TMZ_ seems to back this up.](https://www.tmz.com/2022/07/13/britney-spears-run-out-gas-highway-101-cops-called/) ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2022, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-the-police-for-non-police-matters/967892/24 "2022-07-13T19:45:56Z")
> [@Dallas\_Jones](#): > > Blocking any travel lane of a major freeway most certainly is a police matter. An emergency. Just to get it off the roadway. After that it becomes a AAA or Britany’s problem. But while it is in the roadway it is a major hazard that must be addressed quickly. This. I’ve called 911 on numerous occasions to report a driving lane being blocked by a dead car, dead animal, or inanimate object. ---
**Author:** ![SmellMyWort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SmellMyWort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmellMyWort)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2022, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-the-police-for-non-police-matters/967892/25 "2022-07-13T19:48:21Z")
I’m still trying to figure out why someone would think that a disabled vehicle blocking a lane of a major highway ISN’T an emergency situation. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2022, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-the-police-for-non-police-matters/967892/26 "2022-07-13T19:49:02Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > I also believe she was justified in calling the police. My only comment was that it’s ridiculous that she ran out of gas in a travel lane. It is not an accident— running out of fuel on the road is an avoidable occurrence. Punishable by fine in some jurisdictions. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2022, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-the-police-for-non-police-matters/967892/27 "2022-07-13T19:52:37Z")
Because a traffic jam is not an emergency anywhere, and in L.A. it’s considered normal traffic. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2022, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-the-police-for-non-police-matters/967892/28 "2022-07-13T19:54:18Z")
I see police stopped behind disabled vehicles on the freeway all the time. They’re not changing a tire or anything, they are just making the car visible until a tow truck comes. I’ve seen them put their cars into the lane to assist with the tow truck’s ability to tow as well. And this is in the berm, not in a lane. The police have discretion as to what they can do when called. They’re not solving mysteries and fighting crime their whole shift. A motorist in a stopped vehicle in a lane on the highway sounds pretty important, for the safety of the motorist and other vehicles. They’re not going to run from a robbery call to move a car but 99% of the time they’re not on a robbery call and someone is available to assist with the hulabaloo on the highway. ---
**Author:** ![SmellMyWort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SmellMyWort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmellMyWort)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2022, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-the-police-for-non-police-matters/967892/29 "2022-07-13T20:02:00Z")
I guess I was picturing cars whizzing by on a busy highway. Like this video from MN a month ago: [Abandoned Pickup Catches Fire After Crash On I-35 - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifcmyjnZxpQ) ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2022, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-the-police-for-non-police-matters/967892/30 "2022-07-13T20:04:58Z")
OK, so maybe the incident was completely and 100% Spears’ fault, for ignoring the fuel gauge and low-fuel warnings. Granted that, the end result is still a vehicle stopped in the middle of the highway, which is still a hazard, and still something that justifies police intervention. So she called the police, as she should have, and they came out and cleared the road hazard, as they should have. And then maybe (we don’t know this part yet) they’ll fine her or something for creating the hazard. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2022, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-the-police-for-non-police-matters/967892/31 "2022-07-13T20:05:02Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Googling, California has the Freeway Service Patrol with tow trucks to help people out in circumstances like this. Which has its own number – [511.](https://511.org/driving/assist) ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2022, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-the-police-for-non-police-matters/967892/32 "2022-07-13T20:44:44Z")
It’s not the traffic jam, it is the high danger. If people get out, or if someone doesn’t notice the stopped cars, etc. Also- the car has to be moved sometime, and AAA won’t do it. This was a reasonable reason to call the non-emergency line. > [@Chronos](#): > > OK, so maybe the incident was completely and 100% Spears’ fault, for ignoring the fuel gauge and low-fuel warnings. Granted that, the end result is still a vehicle stopped in the middle of the highway, which is still a hazard, and still something that justifies police intervention. So she called the police, as she should have, and they came out and cleared the road hazard, as they should have. Exactly. > [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Googling, California has the Freeway Service Patrol with tow trucks to help people out in circumstances like this. I am not sure if 511 has the authority to stop traffic, they’d have to call the CHP anyway/ And altho 511 is a wonderful service, it is sadly underfunded. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2022, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-the-police-for-non-police-matters/967892/33 "2022-07-13T21:03:29Z")
You can be ticketed for running out of gas on a busy highway. But calling 911 when blocking the road was the right thing to do. Running out of gas is just plain stupid though. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2022, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-the-police-for-non-police-matters/967892/34 "2022-07-13T22:09:27Z")
At the risk of the obvious, celebrities aren’t always real bright. But in addition to all the other good thoughts above, here’s another. Celebrities are also more personal security conscious / paranoid than you or I. While driving they’re protected by their car. But once the car is dead, they’re trapped. You or I would be equally trapped at that point, but probably wouldn’t think to worry about a crazed fan stumbling on the situation and wanting to take advantage. A celebrity may well. Whether that worry is well-founded or not is NOT the point. The worry will likely occur. And then drive the decision to call for protection from the perceived threat. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2022, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-the-police-for-non-police-matters/967892/35 "2022-07-13T22:25:45Z")
And as celebrities they don’t get the benifit of the doubt that perhaps the fuel gauge was malfunctioning. Easier and more fun to infer that they are just dumb and thoughtless. Remember the shit storm she faced when she had her child pretending to drive the car and pictures were plastered all over the media. People were calling for her parental rights to be taken away. When in reality many normal parents had done the very same thing. She can’t do things normal people do without people wagging their fingers. No wonder she has had mental problems. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2022, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-the-police-for-non-police-matters/967892/36 "2022-07-14T00:17:20Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > If she didn’t call 911 then it’s fine. You are supposed to be able to call the police for any kind of assistance, and they should take reasonable steps to help you. If it’s not an emergency then you have time to find a non-emergency number for the police. She was stopped in the third lane of a freeway and that’s _not_ an emergency? 🤨 ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2022, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-the-police-for-non-police-matters/967892/37 "2022-07-14T00:48:20Z")
No. There’s two other lanes free. It’s just a traffic jam. Even if traffic was completely stopped in all lanes it’s still not an emergency, traffic jams like that happen every day. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2022, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-the-police-for-non-police-matters/967892/38 "2022-07-14T00:52:26Z")
Never mind. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2022, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-the-police-for-non-police-matters/967892/39 "2022-07-14T01:06:45Z")
This doesn’t seem like the worst thing. Canada just had a major service interruption for smartphones. Hundreds of people, maybe thousands, called 9-1-1… 🙄 ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2022, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-the-police-for-non-police-matters/967892/40 "2022-07-14T01:16:56Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > No. There’s two other lanes free. It’s just a traffic jam. Even if traffic was completely stopped in all lanes it’s still not an emergency, traffic jams like that happen every day. It is very urgent. Call the police urgent. Not 911 emergency. People could die. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-the-police-for-non-police-matters/967892.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-the-police-for-non-police-matters/967892.md?page=3)