Listen to the 911 calls
The dispatcher said, "9-1-1, What's your emergency?"
The caller said, "I'm calling to find out who do I call to find out the score of the Saturday basketball game that was played in Dayton?"
At local dispatch centers, officials said non-emergency calls are happening far too often.
One woman confused 9-1-1 with a taxi service.
The caller said, "Can somebody come and pick me up for work?"
"Maam, this is a life of death emergency line," said the dispatcher.
"This is life or death," said the caller.
Taxpayers like Mandy Marshall, a mother of four children, said non-emergency calls are an incredible waste.
"It's very scary to think that you need to get through and you're not going to be able to," said Marshall.
Each medic run costs between $500 and $1,000. Last year, the Montgomery County Regional Dispatch Center handled more than $1.2 million calls.
The Dayton Fire Chief said in 2010, abusive and non-emergency medic runs cost the city $8 million.
"I think some people think it's their right as a citizen to call us," said Chief Herbert Redden.
In response, authorities are now taking action.
"Once we have an abusive caller, we follow up with criminal charges immediately," said Captain Rob Streck of the Montgomery County Regional Dispatch Center
The person is charged with 9-1-1 abuse.
That is what happened to Maggie Racz of Jefferson Township, who said she is a diabetic and needs help on occasion. Officials said she called 9-1-1 fifteen times in the past two months.
WHIO-TV reporter Jim Otte said, "Do you think that's too much?"
Racz said, "No, not for what it's for and they've come through every time."
Some people call 5o to 60 times a day.
"I called 9-1-1 and asked for a paramedic to be brought out," said Ericka Williams of Dayton.
Her ticket for $160 came when she called four times after she was assaulted.
Authorities said some people call because they are lonely.
The caller said, "You sound kind of hot. Are you single?"
"Sir, This is a 9-1-1 line," said the dispatcher.
Officials said a good rule of thumb is to only call 9-1-1 to report a crime, save a life, or put out a fire. For non-emergency calls, take the time to look the number up in your phone book or on the internet.
To hear some of these non-emergency and abusive calls, click here:
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