Philly police to stop responding to fender benders
04-30-2010, 07:40 AM
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Philly police to stop responding to fender benders
Coming to the budget strapped city near you:
QUOTE
Philly police to stop responding to fender benders
PHILADELPHIA -- Starting this coming Monday, Philadelphia Police officers will no longer be responding to minor fender benders.
Motorists will have to fend for themselves and call the nearest police district on their own.
Philadelphia Police officials said they respond to nearly 70,000 auto accidents each year, adding about 10,000 do not require a police officer.
"We can save police response time and have officers available for more important, pressing issues," Lt. Frank Vanore explained.
Beginning Monday, accidents that involve vehicles that can be safely driven away and no injuries to report can now exchange information and file a police report on the phone.
"If there's an issue that you don't feel can be resolved without the officer there, the dispatcher will evaluate that on the phone when you call 911 and then he/she will have an officer respond," Lt. Vanore said.
Several other cities, including Chicago, are already utilizing the policy.
PHILADELPHIA -- Starting this coming Monday, Philadelphia Police officers will no longer be responding to minor fender benders.
Motorists will have to fend for themselves and call the nearest police district on their own.
Philadelphia Police officials said they respond to nearly 70,000 auto accidents each year, adding about 10,000 do not require a police officer.
"We can save police response time and have officers available for more important, pressing issues," Lt. Frank Vanore explained.
Beginning Monday, accidents that involve vehicles that can be safely driven away and no injuries to report can now exchange information and file a police report on the phone.
"If there's an issue that you don't feel can be resolved without the officer there, the dispatcher will evaluate that on the phone when you call 911 and then he/she will have an officer respond," Lt. Vanore said.
Several other cities, including Chicago, are already utilizing the policy.
