# I received an amber alert notice **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 16, 2015, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-received-an-amber-alert-notice/740635 "2015-12-16T21:27:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2015, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-received-an-amber-alert-notice/740635/1 "2015-12-16T21:27:35Z")
I’m assuming I got it because I signed up for news alerts from a local TV station. But it was odd. First up at the top of the phone was a little red triangle icon which I hadn’t seen before. The message itself was cryptic. It said “Amber Alert. Green Bay Kia …” followed by what I presume was a license plate number. No mention of what of anyone’s names, or what anyone was being sought for. A few minutes later there I got an news alert from the TV station itself, fleshing out some more detail, including a picture and the name of a missing child, and the name of the adult who is suspected of taking him. Their last names didn’t match, so it might or might not be an outright kidnapping, or some kind of parental/custodial dispute carried too far. That was another detail not released. ---
**Author:** ![Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2015, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-received-an-amber-alert-notice/740635/2 "2015-12-16T21:29:11Z")
I get them occasionally and have never signed up for anything. I assumed everyone gets them. ---
**Author:** ![sachertorte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sachertorte/32/3727_2.png) [@sachertorte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sachertorte)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2015, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-received-an-amber-alert-notice/740635/3 "2015-12-16T21:33:35Z")
Those types of alerts default to ON, but you can turn them off if you want to. It’s in settings somewhere on your phone. I’d keep mine on if the powers that be could use a little more discretion on issuing these. 3AM is not a good time to make my phone blare that awful sound. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2015, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-received-an-amber-alert-notice/740635/4 "2015-12-16T21:33:57Z")
I never got one before. If I got one without signing up for anything, I would be a little creeped out. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2015, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-received-an-amber-alert-notice/740635/5 "2015-12-16T21:49:38Z")
> [@sachertorte](#): > > Those types of alerts default to ON, but you can turn them off if you want to. It’s in settings somewhere on your phone. > > I’d keep mine on if the powers that be could use a little more discretion on issuing these. 3AM is not a good time to make my phone blare that awful sound. I’ve looked through my settings options and I’m not seeing this anywhere. FWIW I have an android phone. ---
**Author:** ![Macca26](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/13edae/32.png) [@Macca26](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Macca26)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2015, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-received-an-amber-alert-notice/740635/6 "2015-12-16T21:57:04Z")
With Verizon, I know they keep those settings in a separate default app called “Emergency Alerts” where you can customize what kind of alerts you receive. They are all on by default as these are state police alerts for public safety. Presidential alerts cannot be turned off. Those would only be used in extreme national crisis, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![dzeiger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/46a35a/32.png) [@dzeiger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dzeiger)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2015, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-received-an-amber-alert-notice/740635/7 "2015-12-16T22:06:28Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > I’ve looked through my settings options and I’m not seeing this anywhere. FWIW I have an android phone. It may vary by phone and provider–do a google search for the phone type and “Disabling Amber Alerts” and you should get hits. Wherever it is, there should be three settings, one for Amber Alerts, one for severe weather notifications, and one for Presidential Alerts that you won’t be able to disable (the end of the world will be announced via text message) ---
**Author:** ![Emtar\_KronJonDerSohn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/58956e/32.png) [@Emtar\_KronJonDerSohn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emtar_KronJonDerSohn)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2015, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-received-an-amber-alert-notice/740635/8 "2015-12-16T23:02:53Z")
> [@dzeiger](#): > > (the end of the world will be announced via text message) Well, you know, so you can _do_ something about it. Right? ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2015, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-received-an-amber-alert-notice/740635/9 "2015-12-16T23:16:37Z")
I got the same one, neighbor. (La Crosse is about 100 miles from Madison). ---
**Author:** ![Hopeful\_Crow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/da6949/32.png) [@Hopeful\_Crow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hopeful_Crow)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2015, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-received-an-amber-alert-notice/740635/10 "2015-12-16T23:35:01Z")
We got one the other day, Some crooks stole a car, not realizing there were kids inside. Apparently the perps discovered them pretty quickly so they parked the car in a drug store parking lot just ten blocks from where they stole it and took off. Someone passing by, who had also gotten the amber alert on their phone, spotted the car and called the cops. The kids were fine and were soon back with their parents. It’s good to know that this system really can reunite families. Yeah, that noise can be startling and annoying, but it sure catches your attention. I do wish they’d give out more details, though. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2015, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-received-an-amber-alert-notice/740635/11 "2015-12-17T00:05:20Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > I never got one before. If I got one without signing up for anything, I would be a little creeped out. It’s really creepy when the whole office gets them at the same time. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2015, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-received-an-amber-alert-notice/740635/12 "2015-12-17T00:09:26Z")
> [@snfaulkner](#): > > It’s really creepy when the whole office gets them at the same time. Yes, it’s like a wave of SCARY IPHONE MESSAGES. Somehow they always seem a tiny bit staggered. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2015, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-received-an-amber-alert-notice/740635/13 "2015-12-17T00:22:35Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > I never got one before. If I got one without signing up for anything, I would be a little creeped out. I would be pissed as fuck, then creeped out because not only did I not sign up, but I also don’t even have a smartphone. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2015, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-received-an-amber-alert-notice/740635/14 "2015-12-17T15:37:42Z")
> [@TBG](#): > > I would be pissed as fuck, Lighten up Francis. Somethings the gubmint does to help people other than you. > **[Home | AMBER Alert](https://amberalert.ojp.gov/)** > > AMBER Alerts instantly galvanize communities to assist in the search for and the safe recovery of an endangered missing or abducted child. Learn about the program's National AMBER Alert Coordinator, guidelines for issuing Alerts, and supporting... > [@](#): > > As of January 1, 2013, AMBER Alerts™ will now be automatically sent through the Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) program to millions of cell phone users. If you have a WEA-enabled phone, you are automatically enrolled for the three alerts: President, Imminent Threat and AMBER Alerts. The addition of AMBER Alerts to this notification system is a result of a partnership between CTIA and the wireless industry, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2015, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-received-an-amber-alert-notice/740635/15 "2015-12-17T16:04:14Z")
I got one this morning, something about a 17 year old in Orange County (mid-Florida, I’m in the north). Well, I hope it turns out okay, whatever it is. I think it’s pretty great that so many people can be notified and maybe do something to avert disasters. ---
**Author:** ![Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2015, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-received-an-amber-alert-notice/740635/16 "2015-12-17T16:37:00Z")
> [@TBG](#): > > I would be pissed as fuck, then creeped out because not only did I not sign up, but I also don’t even have a smartphone. Why would you be “pissed as fuck?” Is a random noise on your phone really that big of a deal? Especially considering it’s about helping a missing child? ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2015, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-received-an-amber-alert-notice/740635/17 "2015-12-17T19:24:42Z")
There was one here last week, a nineteen year old non-custodial father took his six month old baby son and ran off. Dumb bastard was found within the hour of the alert going out. He’d gone to his mother’s house, and when he heard about the Amber Alert he turned himself in by calling 911. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2015, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-received-an-amber-alert-notice/740635/18 "2015-12-17T19:49:29Z")
> [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > I got one this morning, something about a 17 year old in Orange County (mid-Florida, I’m in the north). Well, I hope it turns out okay, whatever it is. I think it’s pretty great that so many people can be notified and maybe do something to avert disasters. I got this one too. They also had her picture up on the video billboards on the highway and the one at work. ---
**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:** [December 17, 2015, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-received-an-amber-alert-notice/740635/19 "2015-12-17T19:53:09Z")
> [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](#): > > I get them occasionally and have never signed up for anything. I assumed everyone gets them. This. > [@TBG](#): > > I would be pissed as fuck, then creeped out because not only did I not sign up, but I also don’t even have a smartphone. What does that have to do with anything? For me they’re just texts. ---
**Author:** ![zbuzz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e19b73/32.png) [@zbuzz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zbuzz)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2015, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-received-an-amber-alert-notice/740635/20 "2015-12-17T20:18:12Z")
> [@dzeiger](#): > > and one for Presidential Alerts that you won’t be able to disable (the end of the world will be announced via text message) \*Standard text message rates apply. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-received-an-amber-alert-notice/740635.md?page=2)