More than 4.8 million calls were made in the first half of the year to the 112 single emergency number in Romania. Only 2.6 million were emergencies, according to data from the Special Telecommunications Service (STS). 

Over 2.2 million calls were non-emergencies, and more than 311,000 (6.47%) were abusive calls. For example, a person from Olt county called the 112 emergency number 9,544 times, and 44 others called the unique emergency number at least 1,000 times, the STS report said.

“Citizens have repeatedly called the emergency number abusively, without having a real emergency, they made jokes or insulted the operators, requested information or used the emergency line in the context of events that did not require the intervention of specialized agencies,” STS said.

The agency also gave the example of “Iulian,” a man from Giurgiu who called 112 over 1,500 times in two months, without having any emergency. The Police managed to identify and fine “Iulian” for making abusive emergency calls.

“There are other citizens like “Iulian” in other counties, who also called 112 abusively, without having emergencies. One person from Ilfov called 7,573 times, another person from Vaslui called 6,779 times, a citizen from Neamț 5,695 times, and another citizen from Cluj county made 5,563 emergency calls,” the STS also said.

Those who make abusive calls to the 112 emergency number risk fines of up to RON 2,000. In case intervention teams respond to the call and find that it was a false alert, the fine can reach RON 4,000.

newsroom@romania-insider.com

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