# Dropping a Dime, on your neighbor? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 19, 2010, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dropping-a-dime-on-your-neighbor/550684 "2010-08-19T00:25:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![NadaHappyCamper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/278dde/32.png) [@NadaHappyCamper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NadaHappyCamper)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2010, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dropping-a-dime-on-your-neighbor/550684/21 "2010-08-19T03:09:27Z")
Again for Alice the Goon, Every time I call 911 they get my cellular number and Name, so they know who I am already I would like to thank the Members who have replied and those who will reply. and ,I like to think that perhaps if just one life is saved or one person decides to drive in a responsible manner then calling 911 is worth it, I am willing to go to court to testify if thats what it takes, and I hope the law does follow up on the calls. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2010, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dropping-a-dime-on-your-neighbor/550684/22 "2010-08-19T03:10:03Z")
> [@AClockworkMelon](#): > > > [@Alice\_The\_Goon](#): > > > > Many studies have proven this- it’s not my opinion, but fact. > > I wasn’t questioning the assertion that hands-free devices are just as unsafe as the alternatives. I was asking if I should be forbidden to talk to passengers while I’m driving. > > > [@Alice](#): > > > > But thanks for your contribution, as always. > > I’ve got a uselessness quota to fill. It turns out that it’s talking on a phone that is dangerous - talking to passengers is much safer, because they can react to traffic conditions (like shutting up if the traffic suddenly slows). ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2010, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dropping-a-dime-on-your-neighbor/550684/23 "2010-08-19T03:18:00Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > > [@AClockworkMelon](#): > > > > I wasn’t questioning the assertion that hands-free devices are just as unsafe as the alternatives. I was asking if I should be forbidden to talk to passengers while I’m driving. > > It turns out that it’s talking on a phone that is dangerous - talking to passengers is much safer, because they can react to traffic conditions (like shutting up if the traffic suddenly slows). Makes sense. Passengers can shout “Look out, brah!” ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2010, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dropping-a-dime-on-your-neighbor/550684/24 "2010-08-19T03:21:29Z")
[QUOTE=NadaHappyCamper] To address Red Skeezix, If at 60 mph on the freeway I can look in my rear view mirror and see the driver behind me talking on a cellular phone , he was less than 2 car lenghts from my rear bumper, that driver is too close and not paying proper attention to their driving, had I been forced to apply my brakes there was nothing to stop that vehicle from compounding an already bad situation. [/QUOTE] You’re going that slow, and you’re worried that they’ve left too much space between cars and on the phone? You’d die from panic within one day of driving around Charlotte. 80 MPH with less than a length separation is not at all uncommon on my morning commute. ---
**Author:** ![Looey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ee7513/32.png) [@Looey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Looey)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2010, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dropping-a-dime-on-your-neighbor/550684/25 "2010-08-19T03:23:34Z")
The few times I’ve called 911, I’ve received a jury duty summons within a month or two. I don’t do it now unless I’m ready to spend a day in the courthouse. ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2010, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dropping-a-dime-on-your-neighbor/550684/26 "2010-08-19T04:07:15Z")
> [@NadaHappyCamper](#): > > I don’t know how many times I have called 911, in the past . This translates directly to “More than I can count.” I can tell you exactly the times… twice. Once I was rear ended at a stop light, and the other when we saw someone going the wrong way on a six lane interstate at night. (I’ve been driving for 36 years) Sixty on the interstate? Around here you would be impeding traffic. Two car lengths at 60?.. I’m surprised someone didn’t move in and fill that gap. Six lengths as another poster said… only if there are only a couple of cars within a mile or two. If you really think that calling 911 will send the troops out to chase the guy down who made an illegal lane change that somehow endangered you directly, I’m afraid you may be somewhat… (what’s another word for delusional that won’t get me a warning?). ---
**Author:** ![JpnDude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/838e76/32.png) [@JpnDude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JpnDude)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2010, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dropping-a-dime-on-your-neighbor/550684/27 "2010-08-19T04:12:25Z")
In South Korea, you [get paid for reporting law breakers](http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE4AH1BH20081118). ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2010, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dropping-a-dime-on-your-neighbor/550684/28 "2010-08-19T04:50:50Z")
Is this OP for real? :dubious: In the off-chance it is, please don’t bother 911 with this shit. Unless you see honest-to-goodness reckless driving use the non-emergency number if you feel compelled to play hall monitor. If I “dropped a dime” on every violation you’ve mentioned in the OP, I would not be able to drive anywhere without calling the police. I’m not exaggerating, either. Quite literally, every single drive I’ve taken in the city I see folks on their cell phones, texting, following too close, improperly changing lanes, not using signals, etc. ---
**Author:** ![FordTaurusSHO94](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f07891/32.png) [@FordTaurusSHO94](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FordTaurusSHO94)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2010, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dropping-a-dime-on-your-neighbor/550684/29 "2010-08-19T04:51:06Z")
Rather than calling the cops, try to get yourself out of situations in which you don’t feel comfortable. I don’t like traveling in packs on the interstate, so some times I have to speed. It may be breaking the law, but it’s safer than traveling in a pack of 10 tailgaters on cell phones. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2010, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dropping-a-dime-on-your-neighbor/550684/30 "2010-08-19T05:24:58Z")
> [@AClockworkMelon](#): > > Makes sense. Passengers can shout “Look out, brah!” Yeah, so then everybody’s looking out the side at the hot sports-bra jogger, and nobody’s watching the road! ---
**Author:** ![Audrey\_Levins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Audrey\_Levins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Audrey_Levins)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2010, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dropping-a-dime-on-your-neighbor/550684/31 "2010-08-19T05:35:31Z")
God, it’s amazing what people will spend time doing. Calling 911 for traffic violations like illegal lane changes?? This isn’t a joke…? IMHO I think the fine folks at 911 have bigger emergencies to worry about, and I would let them do their job, while you continue doing yours. (Which is, btw, unfortunately not Traffic Hall Monitor.) ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2010, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dropping-a-dime-on-your-neighbor/550684/32 "2010-08-19T05:37:31Z")
I’ve called 911 twice this year. Once was to report a 10ft ladder on the freeway and the other time was to report a 4ft steel cylinder rolling across the interstate. I think I was justified. Illegal lane changes, not so much. ---
**Author:** ![chizzuk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@chizzuk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chizzuk)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2010, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dropping-a-dime-on-your-neighbor/550684/33 "2010-08-19T06:10:33Z")
You call 911 for bad lane changes and tailgaters? Don’t come to DC, you’d be institutionalized within hours. I’m routinely 10-15mph above the limit just to stay with traffic, and any lane change around here is by definition unsafe. That’s just How We Do It. You get used to it after awhile. I learned to drive here and while I drive normally for a DC resident, I’m fully aware that elsewhere it would probably be classified as aggressive. But if you freaked out over things like that, you’d never be able to leave your house. ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2010, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dropping-a-dime-on-your-neighbor/550684/34 "2010-08-19T06:26:41Z")
If the police haven’t asked you to sign a complaint against the other driver then they haven’t done anything with the info you have called in. Because you have seen the offense and not an officer, you need to sign a complaint. If you haven’t been asked they are probably blowing you off or have placed your name on the crank caller list. ---
**Author:** ![Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@Sleeps\_With\_Butterflies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sleeps_With_Butterflies)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2010, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dropping-a-dime-on-your-neighbor/550684/35 "2010-08-19T06:41:31Z")
One of my bazillion jobs I had when I was an undergrad was in a call center where we took those phone calls for “HOW AM I DRIVING? CALL 800-IAM-NOSY and tell us!” and we were told to act very concerned and assure the caller it will be dealt with. More often than not? NOBODY CARED. Most of them didn’t even get passed on to the companies because the companies only wanted to get very specific complaints. I think the OP should find something more productive to do with their time. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2010, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dropping-a-dime-on-your-neighbor/550684/36 "2010-08-19T06:44:39Z")
Illegal lane changes? WTF? And how many people have died because you tied up 911? I’m surprised they haven’t told you not to call back unless it’s a real emergency. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2010, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dropping-a-dime-on-your-neighbor/550684/37 "2010-08-19T06:55:38Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > > [@AClockworkMelon](#): > > > > I wasn’t questioning the assertion that hands-free devices are just as unsafe as the alternatives. I was asking if I should be forbidden to talk to passengers while I’m driving. > > > > I’ve got a uselessness quota to fill. > > It turns out that it’s talking on a phone that is dangerous - talking to passengers is much safer, because they can react to traffic conditions (like shutting up if the traffic suddenly slows). It should therefore be illegal to talk to blind passengers. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2010, 9:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dropping-a-dime-on-your-neighbor/550684/38 "2010-08-19T09:21:38Z")
> [@jjimm](#): > > It should therefore be illegal to talk to blind passengers. Makes as much sense as it being illegal to talk on a hands-free phone. ---
**Author:** ![GHO57](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df788c/32.png) [@GHO57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GHO57)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2010, 9:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dropping-a-dime-on-your-neighbor/550684/39 "2010-08-19T09:56:41Z")
> [@AClockworkMelon](#): > > Makes sense. Passengers can shout “Look out, brah!” That’s true… I actually can’t stop them from doing the whole screaming thing. You know… “we’re going to die!!! TRUCK!!! Slow down! There’s no space, we’re going to crash!”, it’s really annoying. Luckily I’ve learned to ignore it for the most part. ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2010, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dropping-a-dime-on-your-neighbor/550684/40 "2010-08-19T12:52:30Z")
> [@AClockworkMelon](#): > > > [@Alice\_The\_Goon](#): > > > > You should know that using a hands-free device does not reduce the risk of talking on the phone while driving very much. It’s the distraction, not the holding of the phone. Now please go report yourself to your local police station. > > So should I be forbidden to talk to passengers while I’m driving, too? The thing about talking to passengers is that they can see the situation on the road as well. Yes, they are a distraction, and the driver should avoid engaging in conversation at the expense of paying attention to the road. They are not as much of a distraction as a phone conversation with someone who is not in the car with you, and who cannot tell how fast or heavy the traffic is. And more and more jurisdictions have banned hand-held cell phone use in cars because of both the distraction and the clumsiness of having to tie up one hand holding the phone. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dropping-a-dime-on-your-neighbor/550684.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dropping-a-dime-on-your-neighbor/550684.md?page=3)