[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Saco 5-1-1995 as Ch. XXIV, Sec. 24-3, of the 1994 Code. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Alarm systems — See Ch. 57.
Ambulance service — See Ch. 60.
The purpose of this chapter is to provide the citizens of Saco with direct telephone access to emergency services by utilizing a common access number for all City emergency agencies. The designated access number shall be consistent with the national standard emergency number and is hereby designated as the digits "911." The emergency access number and any related activity shall hereinafter be referred to as the "911 system."
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
911
A telephone access number used to make contact with emergency services, specifically the digits activated on a telephone device by depressing or dialing the digit 9 followed by the digit 1, followed by the digit 1.
911 SYSTEM
The hardware, software, telephone lines and service, personnel, procedures and other related activity connected with the operation and maintenance of the emergency access number.
EMERGENCY
A sudden, unexpected occurrence which requires immediate response and/or action on the part of a City agency.
EMERGENCY SERVICE
Those services maintained by the City which provide for the protection of life and property. Generally, these services consist of the Police Department and the Fire Department (to include Emergency Medical Services).
Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, the 911 system shall be used only as a means of contacting the emergency services of the City of Saco for the following purposes:
A. 
Reporting any situation which the caller reasonably believes is of an emergency nature and requires the response of emergency personnel and equipment.
B. 
Requesting assistance for himself/herself and/or a third party who is or has been exposed to a situation which has caused harm, injury, illness, distress or similar conditions.
C. 
Reporting or notifying law enforcement personnel of a crime, incident or action which has happened or is reasonably expected to happen and which the caller reasonably believes to be a violation of a state, county or federal law or municipal ordinance.
D. 
Reporting or notifying Fire Department personnel of a situation which has occurred or is reasonably likely to occur and which the caller reasonably believes requires the services of the Fire Department personnel and/or equipment.
E. 
Reporting any other situation, occurrence, incident or event which is of a nature so as to cause a loss of life, destruction of property or injury to persons or animals.
Any use of the 911 system contrary to the uses defined in § 90-3 is a violation of this chapter. Specifically, the 911 system is not to be used for the following purposes:
A. 
Questions of general information, such as travel directions, weather conditions, road conditions or school closings.
B. 
Questions regarding event times or locations.
C. 
Requests for services which are not of an emergency nature.