Proof Blaine County Residents Don’t Know What 911 is For

Traffic Woes Lead to Blatant Misuse of 911

Recently, Blaine County Dispatch 911 was inundated with phone calls from frustrated travelers stuck in traffic on Highway 75 between Hailey and Ketchum. The cause? Road construction that led to significant delays. An additional 2000 cars on the highway following a concert the evening of August 3, created even longer than usual wait times at possibly over an hour in stand-still traffic.

Some comments on social media claimed the situation escalated to where cars began honking, urging lead vehicles to bypass stopping points, adding to the chaos.

Blaine County Sheriff's Office Responds to Misuse of 911

Blaine County Sheriff's Office was flooded with calls due to traffic delays. One state official reported that around 130 calls went into dispatch within 3 hours. This prompted Blaine County to issue a public statement on social media, urging the public to refrain from using emergency services for non-emergency situations. The Sheriff's Office took to social media with the following message:

"Ok, folks, we get it… NO ONE is happy about the ITD roadwork on Hwy 75. We got the message. We do understand, but we need your help. Please don't call the police about this issue. When you call any of the local police agencies on the weekend or evening when their administrative staff is not working, your call rolls to Blaine County Emergency Communications. Dispatch has no information about the ITD road work and cannot assist anyone with the traffic complaints. They continue to get overwhelmed with these calls. The road work will eventually end."

The post shared contact information for the Idaho Transportation Department's Public Information Officer, directing inquiries to the appropriate source.

Tell Me You're Entitled Without Telling Me You're Entitled

How entitled do you have to be to think that you can call a line reserved for life and death emergencies because you’re running late?

I get annoyed by road construction just as much as the next guy. I’ll give you some wiggle room to say that perhaps traffic could have been better managed, or the wait was longer than it could have been. (I wasn't there, so I can't say). But where do you get off calling a line reserved for emergencies because of an inconvenience?

Driving on Idaho roads isn’t a right but a privilege… and if this is how you act because you think you’re too important to sit in your air-conditioned entertainment center while you’re stuck in a construction zone, yours should be taken away.

When to Call 911: Emergencies vs. Inconveniences

Understanding when to call 911 is crucial. Emergency services are designed to respond to urgent and life-threatening situations, not to address inconveniences like traffic delays. Here are some clear guidelines:

Reasons to Contact 911:

• Medical Emergencies: Situations where immediate medical attention is required, such as heart attacks, strokes, severe injuries, or allergic reactions.
• Fire or Explosion: If you witness a fire, explosion, or smell gas, 911 should be contacted immediately.
• Criminal Activities: Reporting crimes in progress, such as robberies, assaults, or domestic violence.
• Serious Accidents: Car accidents with injuries, hazardous material spills, or situations that pose an immediate danger to public safety.

Reasons Not to Contact 911:

• Traffic Complaints: Being stuck in traffic or encountering road construction delays. These issues, while frustrating, do not require emergency intervention.
• Noise Complaints: Loud music or parties might be annoying but are not emergencies.
• Power Outages: Contact your utility company for information or assistance.
• Non-Emergency Inquiries: Questions about public services, such as road construction updates, should be directed to the appropriate local government department or agency.

The misuse of 911 for non-emergencies can strain resources and delay responses to those in true need of assistance. 911 must be reserved for legitimate emergencies. While road construction can be frustrating, it is not a matter for emergency services.

How to Plan for Road Construction in Idaho.

If you want to be aware of or avoid road construction in Idaho, you can go to 511.idaho.gov or download their app. It shows plot points of current projects that might cause you significant delay.