Driving home one night after my evening shift I spotted an alleged drunk driver on the capitol beltway here inWashington, DC. A call to 911 on my mobile phone was a bit daunting because while I was observing this driver swerve several lanes, I was directed through several connections, depending on the jurisdiction I or the driver was located on the beltway. I eventually continued my journey on a different route while the errant driver stayed (or not) on the beltway.
Since wireless phones are mobile, they are not associated with one fixed location or address. While the location of the cell site closest to the 911 caller may provide a general indication of the caller’s location, that information is not usually specific enough for rescue personnel to deliver assistance to the caller quickly. – FCC
