Roll Out Delayed For Camden County's Text 911 System
By Ian Bush
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - By now, you should be able to text 911 in an emergency in Camden County -- the capability was promised by the end of last year. But officials say it's good that it's behind schedule.
It's designed to work by texting a three-digit code plus 911 -- with your message zipped to your local dispatchers:
"In a state of emergency where you couldn't make a call to get the help that you need, this hopefully will put you in a better place and, if need be, save a life."
Camden County Freeholder Scot McCray says they've delayed flipping the switch because the rest of New Jersey wanted in on the action:
"What they really want to do is standardize what we're doing, and roll it out statewide to have capabilities for all 911 communications centers across the state."
He says that's expected by summer for customers with any cell carrier. The FCC is pushing to make it a national thing -- as early as the end of the year.