Indianapolis suburb approves fines against businesses making too many 911 calls

A suburban Indianapolis community has passed an ordinance approving fines against businesses that make too many 911 calls for police help.

The Fishers City Council on Monday unanimously approved the ordinance allowing $250 fines against businesses making 16 or more such calls in a three-month period, The Indianapolis Star reported.

Businesses that make seven calls during that period will receive a warning. A 10th call mandates a meeting with the city to discuss solutions.

The ordinance takes effect Aug. 1. It applies to most commercial and industrial businesses, including bars and day care centers.

Some large retailers and hotels are chronic offenders, Police Chief Ed Gebhart said. They were not identified.

“The calls range from fighting to trespassing, loitering, suspicious activity, and abandoned vehicles,” Gebhart said.

One hotel had 26 calls in two months, and another hotel had 29 calls in three months.

The ordinance is aimed at helping businesses reduce troubling activity, Gebhart said.

A solution might be as simple as posting “no loitering” signs or adding burglar alarms, he said.

“Some of the calls are legitimate, and we want to keep going out on these,” Gebhart said.

Each call must be answered by two officers in two patrol cars, Gebhart said.

A Chamber of Commerce official, Jack Russell, said the business community approves of the ordinance because it is proactive rather than punitive.