# Does 911 have the ability to receive text messages? (In case of burglar...) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 24, 2006, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-911-have-the-ability-to-receive-text-messages-in-case-of-burglar/358011 "2006-05-24T07:30:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![perly2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/dbc845/32.png) [@perly2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/perly2)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2006, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-911-have-the-ability-to-receive-text-messages-in-case-of-burglar/358011/1 "2006-05-24T07:30:23Z")
Does 911 have the ability to receive text messages? Most 911 operators seem to sit in front of those computer screens where they can look up information. If a burglar were in my house, would it be possible for me to send a text message for help in hopes of not alerting a potential attacker? Could those computers be rewired or retrofitted to receive text messages? Would it be a good idea if they did, or is this topic irrational? – Wes Cohen, Highland Park, IL ---
**Author:** ![Declan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Declan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Declan)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2006, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-911-have-the-ability-to-receive-text-messages-in-case-of-burglar/358011/2 "2006-05-24T07:39:48Z")
> [@perly2](#): > > Does 911 have the ability to receive text messages? Most 911 operators seem to sit in front of those computer screens where they can look up information. If a burglar were in my house, would it be possible for me to send a text message for help in hopes of not alerting a potential attacker? Could those computers be rewired or retrofitted to receive text messages? Would it be a good idea if they did, or is this topic irrational? > > – Wes Cohen, Highland Park, IL Yeah , I would love to know as well, my PDA can send and recieve text messages , but the telephone jack thingie on top is probably fudged, i can only hear a person, and cannot reply. Bout the only thing i can think of , is the TTY mode. Declan ---
**Author:** ![The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_chao_goes_mu/32/3191_2.png) [@The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Chao_Goes_Mu)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2006, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-911-have-the-ability-to-receive-text-messages-in-case-of-burglar/358011/3 "2006-05-24T13:30:50Z")
I doubt it, but you could just dial 911, and not say anything into the phone, maintaining a connection. They will send a patrol car to your house. (not valid in Detroit…I kid) ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2006, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-911-have-the-ability-to-receive-text-messages-in-case-of-burglar/358011/4 "2006-05-24T13:48:23Z")
I don’t know a hard factual answer but text messaging is the domain of cell phones and 911 is landline. A cell phone can text to another cell phone or an email address, but not to a landline phone. So I doubt it. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2006, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-911-have-the-ability-to-receive-text-messages-in-case-of-burglar/358011/5 "2006-05-24T14:02:25Z")
You could text msg a friend or your mum and have them call 911 for you. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2006, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-911-have-the-ability-to-receive-text-messages-in-case-of-burglar/358011/6 "2006-05-24T14:56:46Z")
No. ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2006, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-911-have-the-ability-to-receive-text-messages-in-case-of-burglar/358011/7 "2006-05-24T15:03:49Z")
Having my neighbor once left the house with a dog that accidentally dialed 911, I can vouch that **The Chao Goes Mu** is correct: they’d send a car to at least check it out. I was the dogsitter, and had to go into the house and hang up the phone. But then again, aren’t there plenty of calls where the caller whispers, and the dispatcher can keep them on the phone? IIRC, there _is_ a call on record of a domestic dispute, where the wife was under duress. The dispatcher kept asking if she was okay. Obviously, the wife kept saying “Yeah, I’m fine. It’s just an arguement.” Finally, the dispatcher understood she _was_ under duress from the husband, and said to her over the phone, “If you are okay, I need you to clearly repeat your full name.” The wife was smart enough to simply reply “Yeah, I’m okay.” The dispatcher then sent the cavalry in force to the house. I took a little liberty with the dialogue, but I do recall hearing the recording. Tripler But if time is of the essence, why waste it typing in a message, and not whisper into the phone?