The Associated Press
Original publication date: Nov. 29

Sacramento — Wait times are dropping and more Californians placing 9-1-1 cellular telephone calls are getting through to operators.

The state Public Safety Communications Division says only 5 percent of cell phone emergency calls haven’t reached 9-1-1 operators this year, which compares to 42 percent of 9-1-1 wireless calls placed three years ago.

And the Los Angeles Times says the California Highway Patrol, which gets the most cell phone 9-1-1 calls, has significantly reduced caller wait times.

Callers often had to wait several minutes to reach an operator, commonly a CHP dispatcher who had to transfer calls to a local police or fire agency. Local dispatch centers now take 60 percent of cell phone calls directly.

About 17 million wireless 9-1-1 calls were placed last year in California, a 28 percent increase from 2007.

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