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Bill Would Introduce Penalties For Fake 9-1-1 Calls

Ohio Public Radio

Some Ohio lawmakers have introduced a bill designed to cut down on fake 911 calls. Ohio Public Radio's Jo Ingles reports.

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Democratic State Representative Thomas West says people are calling police on African American Ohioans while they are doing things as simple as sitting in parked cars, making phone calls. West says it’s because sometimes, when people see a person of color, they react on their own fears.

 

This is about fear, people having fear about why they are making calls in the first place.”

 

Under the new bill, victims of such calls could sue in civil court. And callers could be required to complete an implicit bias training program. 

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