Has anyone ever heard of *677?

[vene]

From my brother's e-mail, *677 - Has anyone ever heard of this?

Subject: *677


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

It was about 1PM 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 gasstation, 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.

[coppersmom]

I've asked a few police officers about this around here and they had never heard of it. I think it's really supossed to be *GSP or whatever letters are your state patrol or trooper. I know for sure that *GSP or *FHP work in Georgia and Florida repectively.

[Aqueous]

You can reach the Ontario Provincial Police non-emergency line in Ontario by dialing *667 but I think if I were uncertain enough the only number that would stick out in my mind would be 911.

The story about Lauren is actually an urban legend here and it has never been substantiated by the police and the police actually recommend that if you think you are in trouble to call 911 and not *667.

[sunset05]

I've never heard of of it. I've only heard of 911.

[DeLaUK]

This came up in another forum not too long ago and as Aqueous said it is the right number in Ontario, different areas have different numbers though and the police recommend that you just diall 911.

[horse_child]

I've always thought it was *777 not *677, but i'm not sure...

[Mockingcat]

http://www.snopes.com/horrors/mayhem/fakecop.asp

Snopes did an article on this at some point... the answer is yes it does work, but only in some states, so it may be helpful to look up your local number.