Seven Seven

This is an actual email sent to us, word for word. It is, of course, an Urban Legend of the classic type, and also a complete fabrication. Please read to the bottom to learn the truth.

> YOU MUST KNOW *77
> I knew about the red light on cars, but not the *77 It was about 1:00
> p.m. in the afternoon, and Lauren was driving
> to visit a friend. An UNMARKED police car pulled up behind her and put his
> lights on. Lauren’s parents have always told her never to pull over for an
> unmarked car on the side of the road, but rather to wait until they get to
> a
> gas station, etc.
>
> Lauren had actually listened to her
> parents advice, and promptly called *77 on her cell phone to tell the
> police dispatcher
> that she would not pull over right away. She proceeded to tell the
> dispatcher that there was an unmarked
> police car with a flashing red light on his rooftop behind her. The
> dispatcher
> checked to see if there were police cars where she was and there weren’t,
> and
> he told her to keep driving, remain calm and that he h a d back up already
> on the
> way.
>
> Ten minutes later 4 cop cars surrounded
> her and the unmarked car behind her. One policeman went to her side and
> the
> others surrounded the car behind. They pulled the guy from the car and
> tackled
> him to the ground. The man was a convicted rapist and wanted for other
> crimes.
>
> I never knew about the *77 Cell Phone F ea ture,
> but especially for a woman alone in a car, you should not pull over for an
> unmarked car. Apparently police have to respect your right to keep going
> to a
> safe & quiet place. You obviously need to make some signals that you
> acknowledge them (i.e. put on your hazard lights) or call *77 like Lauren
> did.
>
> Too bad the cell phone companies don’t generally give you this little
> bit of wonderful information.
>
> *Speaking to a service representative at
> ** Bell Mobility confirmed that *77 was a direct link
> to state trooper info. So, now it’s your turn to let your friends know
> about *77.
>
> Send this to every woman ( and person)
> you know; it may save a life. This
> applies to ALL 50 states

This is false. You should simply dial 911, *77 doesn’t connect to anything on my Verizon phone.

My friend Jim, 25 year LA County Deputy hasn’t heard of it. He is asking others for us.

I spoke to Iron County Dispatch, they said (in this area) 911 is central dispatch, in other regions 911 is fragmented.

Officers should, but do not always, radio in an attempted stop. Dispatch said it is not uncommon that a person will call to see if a car is attempting a stop and dispatch (in Iron County) frequently has to verify that there is an officer attempting a stop, in that area, and a car like the one they drive. So they have to stop.

There is nothing wrong with the idea that you check if an unmarked patrol car is attempting a stop.

Simply dial 911 (if you have phone signal). Or simply continue to drive to a gas station or other populated place.

This is a good urban legend/scary story and we will definitely post it at http://scareo.com It’s a variation of the “high beams” story.

It is dangerous to say that “*77 works in all 50 states”, it doesn’t work on Verizon phones in Southern Utah, that’s for sure!

But it is also dangerous BS that could get a person killed. You MUST tell people to dial 911 or learn correct procedures for your own region or regions you visit and frequent. DON’T pass around incorrect information that gives people a false sense of security, and has them trying to dial a fictitious number at a time when 911 is always appropriate, and (as far as I have been able to learn) no other number is.

Any reply is welcome.

This famous urban legend has a ton of variations, two of them are “High Beams” and also “Credit Card”

Written by scareo · Filed Under Urban Legends