There are a group of "urban legend" spam stories going around again that tell us to use #77 on a cellphone to call a local police dispatcher if a woman traveling alone is pulled over by someone whom we suspect of masquerading as a cop. Like most urban legends, this one urges everyone to pass the story on. If you get such a story, refer them to www.snopes.com, AND point out that they are far better off using the standard 911, because the "number" for state or local police is variable from state to state and city to city -- it's #77 only in certain jurisdictions (other numbers are used elsewhere) but far from the majority.

There may still be localities that aren't hooked into the 911 system for cellphone users, but there's a much better chance that will work than any other number.

TTT

Not the case in this story. Woman knows enough not to pull over, to lock all doors, and to contact local authorities. The problem here was that forwarding this story out of the jurisdiction where #77 works created a potential problem.

Thank goodness. I thought it was just me!

Wow, thank you soccr. I received that email too and had no idea it was an urban legend. I appreciate you bringing it to our attention!

http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/blcellphone77.htm

Not every state has direct numbers like that you can use from your cell phone. Only 21 states have numbers like that which you can call the state police or highway patrol. I do know that #77 is for Maryland state police, VA state police, NJ state police. *77 is for Mass state police, RI state police, Maine state police. Just some FYI when out on the interstates, these numbers go directly do the closest state police barracks so you can get a trooper out more quickly, usually the ones on I-95 anyways esp in more remote areas.

Not sure about 77 for the police in New Jersey - but 911 works fine there - even on NJT - even from a cell phone.

The point isn't whether 911 works at all, but that the alternate number will connect you more quickly to the nearest state police.

I check every one of those silly emails. I use truthorfiction. Coughing to stop a heartattack...please! Kidney theives and poisonous spiders in airport toilets. Why do people believe these stories. Most of the states that use #77 have it posted on signs. If you do use 911, make sure you wait awhile for it to connect. It can take a long time to connect to 911 on a cell.