On May 13, 2024, the Snoqualmie City Council unanimously adopted Ordinance 1290 in an effort to reduce the number of false requests for emergency services and the misuse of the 911 emergency response system, which can risk public safety and deplete City resources. The ordinance was proposed because Washington state law does not specifically address misuse of the 911 system.
For the past two years, the Issaquah Police 911 Dispatch Center - which handles emergency and non-emergency service calls for Snoqualmie, North Bend and Issaquah - has experienced a large number of harassing calls coming from within the Snoqualmie city limits. These calls did not report an emergency nor new information pertaining to a previously reported incident. Issaquah 911 dispatchers have fielded 264 calls of this nature between January 2023 – March 2024, increasing the amount of time it takes to answer calls for emergency service and dispatch officers.
The new ordinance provides the Snoqualmie Police Department with a tool to address and deter abuse and misuse of the 911 system and hold violators accountable.
A violation of Ordinance 1290 occurs when an individual knowingly and repeatedly utilizes the City’s 911 system or accesses the Issaquah Dispatch Center through the non-emergency line when no emergency or reasonable need for service exists and is subject to a fine of up to $1,000 and up to 90 days in jail.
The new ordinance does not impact any person who makes a good faith request for emergency assistance to the 911 Center or the Snoqualmie Police non-emergency line, nor does it in any way change the department’s adherence to the No Call Too Small motto.
Do you have questions for Chief Lynch about this new ordinance or other public safety topics? Attend an upcoming Chat with the Chief event happening on May 29 at 10 am and May 30 at 5:30 pm. More event details will be posted on the City website and social media channels next week.