No Good Deed Goes Unpunished in Tracey

A few years ago I was out doing some errands when I noticed a woman curled up in a ball at the edge of the parking lot. Concerned but unsure what to do, I called 911. A few minutes later, two police officers and an ambulance showed up to check the woman out.

That’s how things should be. But if the trend recently started in Tracey CA continues, would-be helpful bystanders will have something else to think about before they pull out their cellphones — are they willing to not only make a call when they see something wrong, but also pay for the privilege of getting help for someone?

Tracy residents will now have to pay every time they call 9-1-1 for a medical emergency.

But there are a couple of options. Residents can pay a $48 voluntary fee for the year which allows them to call 9-1-1 as many times as necessary.

Or, there’s the option of not signing up for the annual fee. Instead, they will be charged $300 if they make a call for help.

Cities everywhere are struggling to make ends meet, and new fees for services are a logical way to get the needed revenue. But 911 service? Really?

So once they start this new program, when you call 911 in Tracey, will they check your payment status and ask for a credit card number before dispatching help? What if you’re poor and can’t afford to pay?

And how may people will see something bad happen and not call, because they can’t afford to get involved?

One thought on “No Good Deed Goes Unpunished in Tracey”

  1. This has been a source of contention here in the Central Valley since it was announced originally in June 2009. But I can tell you the origins of this… it is the 9-1-1 abusers. There are people who treat the 9-1-1 system as their personal free taxi service for non-emergency issues, and it is really causing a lot of financial hardship for communities.

    It won’t affect people who dial 9-1-1 on their cell phones as a Good Samaritan. It will affect those who live in Tracey. There is still a great deal of confusion over this, and it may just be something for Tracy residents only when it is over and done with. I do believe there is also a way for someone to request the fee be waived.

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