TheNorth Texas Emergency Communications Center (NTECC), Carrollton’s public safety dispatch and operations organization, has created a new, simpler way for residents to contact first responders for non-emergency calls.

The new phone number, *247, is available to residents throughout NTECC’s jurisdiction, which includes the Cities of:

• Carrollton
• Coppell
• Farmers Branch
• And the Town of Addison

Each municipality will maintain its existing standard, 10-digit non-emergency phone number such as 972-466-3333 in Carrollton, but the addition of *247 will make it easier for residents to remember the number in non-emergency situations while also providing yet another option for reaching assistance.  

As *247 indicates, this number is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Residents are encouraged to contact *247 for any non-emergency situation at any time day or night.

The *247 hotline is used to contact first-responders for non-emergency calls.

Examples of a non-emergency include:

• noise complaints
• property theft where the theft has already occurred such as a stolen bicycle
• a vehicle break-in not currently in progress
• other non-life-threatening situations

Residents should still contact 911 for emergencies such as a fire, medical emergency, or any instance where a person or property is in immediate danger.

All four major phone carriers, AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and Sprint have access to *247, which provides most residents the ability to utilize this service in any of NTECC’s four municipalities. *247 cannot be accessed on a landline.

• Reporting a crime in progress
• Reporting a fire or immediate threat to life or safety
• Involved in an injury traffic collision
• Having difficulty breathing or symptoms of a heart attack or stroke
• Experiencing sudden, severe pain and/or severe bleeding
• Having an allergic reaction or other medical emergency

In 2020, NTECC processed 6,648 abandoned calls or 9-1-1 hang-ups, which, on average, take over 3 minute each to resolve. That’s almost 356 hours. If you accidentally call 9-1-1, don’t hang up.

Tell the dispatcher it was a misdial and that you do not have an emergency. If you hang up, the dispatcher will try to call back and may dispatch an officer if it cannot be determined that an emergency exists; thereby, depleting emergency resources unnecessarily.

Remember, stay on the line so dispatchers can quickly be ready for the next call, which may be a life-or-death situation.