Assemblymember Freddie Rodriguez, Chair of the Select Committee on Local Emergency Preparedness, released a statement following the Committee’s informational hearing “9-1-1 Location Accuracy: Will Rescuers Know Where You Are?”:
“It is a sad commentary on our ability to summon emergency aid when Uber can find you faster than 9-1-1. It’s unacceptable.” said Rodriguez “Cell phones are so prevalent in our society yet our emergency systems are unable to pinpoint a caller’s location unless they are using a landline. The 9-1-1 system is failing cell phone users. We heard valuable testimony today and I will be looking at ways that the legislature can act to help bring our 9-1-1 systems in line with modern technology.”
“If there is one thing that I have learned from this hearing, it is this: if you are using a cell phone to call 9-1-1, you better know exactly where you are because the system may not be able to find you. If you know where you are, that needs to be the first thing you tell 9-1-1 dispatch.”