#77 on your phone

[lynnmm]

I knew about the red light on cars, but not the #77. It was about 1:00
> p.m. in the afternoon, and Lauren was driving to visit a friend. An
> UNMARKED police car pulled up behind her and put his lights on.
> *Lauren's parents have always told her never to pull over for an
> unmarked car on the side of the road, but rather to wait until they
> get to a gas station, etc. *
>
>
> Lauren had actually listened to her parents advice, and promptly
> called #77 on her cell phone to tell the police dispatcher that she
> would not pull over right away. She proceeded to tell the dispatcher
> that there was an unmarked police car with a flashing red light on his
> rooftop behind her. The dispatcher checked to see if there were police
> cars where she was and there weren't, and he told her to keep driving,
> remain calm and that he had back up already on the way.
>
> Ten minutes later 4 cop cars surrounded her and the unmarked car
> behind her. One policeman went to her side and the others surrounded
> the car behind. They pulled the guy from the car and tackled him to
> the ground. The man was a convicted rapist and wanted for other
> crimes.
>
> I never knew about the #77 Cell Phone Feature, but especially for a
> woman alone in a car, you should not pull over for an unmarked car.
> Apparently police have to respect your right to keep going to a safe &
> quiet place. You obviously need to make some signals that you
> acknowledge them ( i.e. put on your hazard lights) or call #77 like
> Lauren did.
>
> Too bad the cell phone companies don't generally give you this little
> bit of wonderful information.
>
> *Speaking to a service representative at **Bell ** Mobility confirmed
> that #77 was a direct link to OPP Dispatch. So, now it's your turn to
> let your friends know about #77.

[liljj07]

Interesting.. Thanks

[chicky82]

These internet things are scary :( and causes a false sense of security such as the #77 number although it's true that in some states in the US pressing #77 will connect you to state patrol, it isn't universal: http://www.snopes.com/crime/warnings/fakecop.asp
I think it would be just better to call 911, same number of button pressing

[lynnmm]

youre right
also dont pull over for unmarked cars

[ignite]

I'd never pull over for an unmarked car regardless, i'd just drive to the nearest police station or gas station, etc.

[littlebity]

Good to know......thank you

[delsolbabi]

Great POST!! i'll be sure to tell my friends about this one!!

[budgrrl]

unmarked police cruisers will still have emergency lighting - just not the typical roof racks.

these stories are most often urban legends, and just end up scaring the crap out of everyone.
if a cruiser is trying to pull you over, stop. chances are it is not an axe weilding maniac!

[Lolo]

hmm i wonder if this is true....but i dont want to risk calling there

[TexsWife]

There was a young fellow who had bought the police signals at a local radio shack. He used them continously just having fun in his eyes, not harming anyone but it still scared people and they pulled over because of the lights on the car. After he was caught he was charged which he should have been. So beware false lights as well. Now with newer lights on cars itll be more difficult to imitate.

[Sweetness4713]

Here is an Ontario version of that same above story.. But check the numbers that were used.. hmmmm.. Urban Legends???

Dial *677 - Rapist Impersonates Police Officer (Ontario)
Netlore Archive: Female college student pulled over in her car by a cop-impersonating would-be rapist is rescued by a real officer after dialing *677 on her cell phone (Ontario, Canada version)

Description: Urban legend
Status: Grain of truth
Circulating since: July 2004 (this version)
Analysis: See below

Email text contributed by A. Mann, 07/22/04:

Subject: Fw: Good advice and the importance of *677

I knew about the red light on cars, but not the *677.

It was about 1 PM in the afternoon, and Lauren was driving to visit a friend. An UNMARKED police car pulled up behind her and put his lights on. Lauren's parents have 4 children (high school and college age) and have always told them never to pull over for an unmarked car on the side of the road, but rather wait until they get a gas station, etc. Lauren had actually listened to her parents advice, and promptly called *677 on her cell phone to tell the police dispatcher that she would not pull over right away.

She proceeded to tell the dispatcher that there was an unmarked police car with a flashing red light on his rooftop behind her.

The dispatcher checked to see if there were police cars where she was and there weren't, and he told her to keep driving, remain calm and that he had back up already on the way.

Ten minutes later 4 cop cars surrounded her and the unmarked car behind her. One policeman went to her side and the others surrounded the car behind. They pulled the guy from the car and tackled him to the ground. The man was a convicted rapist and wanted for other crimes. I never knew about the *677 Cell Phone Feature, but especially for a woman alone in a car, you should not pull over for an unmarked car. Apparently police have to respect your right to keep going to a "safe" place. You obviously need to make some signals that you acknowledge them (i.e. put on your hazard lights) or call *677 like Lauren did.

Too bad the cell phone companies don't generally give you this little bit of wonderful information.

*Speaking to a service representative at **Bell** Mobility confirmed that *677 was a direct link to OPP Dispatch.

So, now it's your turn to let your friends know about *677.

Send this to every woman you know, it may save a life.


Comments: What you have just read is an Ontario, Canada variant of an urban legend circulating via email since March 2002. While it's true that the OPP (Ontario Provincial Police) can be reached by dialing *677 (numerical equivalent of *OPP) on any phone in the province, the rest of the story (a college student named Lauren narrowly avoids becoming the victim of a rapist impersonating a police officer by calling the real police, etc., etc.) was cut and pasted from the original three-year-old message. The tale has never been substantiated.

That said, there have been cases in Ontario and elsewhere of criminals impersonating police officers, so caution may be warranted for drivers pulled over in isolated areas. "What I suggest is that you pull over as soon as it is safe but keep your doors locked and windows rolled up until you are satisfied the officer has properly identified themselves," said a police sergeant interviewed by YorkRegion.com.

A spokesperson for the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association said Ontario drivers can reach police in an emergency by dialing either *677 or 911.

[budgrrl]

in any event, 911 is much easier to dial (less buttons to push) and will place you with the local police, rather than an OPP detachement that may not be familiar with your location - making it a much faster response time (less digits to dial, and communication operator familiarity with the area)