View Full Version : Call Boxes,A Thing Of The Past
SB 405
03-09-2006, 08:30 PM
I heard on the news this evening due to cell phones and the regular patrol of the FSP call boxes will be phased out.
CaliforniaHighwayPatrol
03-09-2006, 08:34 PM
I think that is dumb... you never know when you are going to need them.
nobody33
03-09-2006, 08:46 PM
It would probally be more effective to relocate call boxes to areas of more need- IE rural areas with little to no cell service and far from anything. I'd much rather have call boxes every mile in the middle of no where than in LA.
14596
03-09-2006, 09:23 PM
we had none in rural Colusa County. County was too cheap and declined to pay for them!
nobody33
03-09-2006, 09:46 PM
we had none in rural Colusa County. County was too cheap and declined to pay for them!
One of the small counties along the 5, either colusa or glenn, I cant remember which, has a large sign on the freeway when you enter- end of call boxes- because they are too cheap to get them also.
The news report I saw didn't say they were phasing them out entirely - it said that they were removing a portion of them in Orange county.
SB 405
03-10-2006, 07:49 AM
The news report I saw didn't say they were phasing them out entirely - it said that they were removing a portion of them in Orange county.You may be correct Mac because I just caught the tail end of the story,however LA County can't be far behind. I can't remember the last time I saw anybody using a call box. I think YM posted something awhile back saying people who can't afford a cell phone may also not be able to afford regular maintenance on their vehicle and many times call box users are people who are financially challenged (for lack of a better term)
TheForceCHP
03-10-2006, 10:25 AM
around where i live in LA county i seem to be seeing more and more boxes that have the not working signs
SB 405
03-10-2006, 11:11 AM
You're right Mac
Wednesday, March 8, 2006
End of line for many freeway call boxes
By JIM RADCLIFFE
The Orange County Register
ORANGE ? Call boxes, once the lifeline of stranded motorists along freeways and toll roads, are expected to begin coming down this month in Orange County, an official with the Orange County Transportation Authority said today.
The OCTA intends to take down 587 of them. About 700 will remain.
?We just think with the proliferation of cell phones, having them every quarter-mile isn?t cost-effective,? said Iain Fairweather, OCTA?s manager of motor services.
In the 1980s, the call boxes in the county were used 8,000 times a month. Last month, they were used 1,700 times.
It will take several months for the OCTA to remove the retired call boxes.
The transportation agency will transfer the savings, more than $450,000 a year, into the Freeway Service Patrol, a fleet of tow trucks.
They help stranded motorists for free, providing gas, fixing flat tires and moving vehicles off of freeways and toll roads. The program?s primary purpose is to reduce congestion.
SB 405
03-10-2006, 11:17 AM
Speaking of call boxes....How many here are old enough (hand raised) to remember when police departments had call boxes on street corners for Officers to use when they were requested to call the station?
Speaking of call boxes....How many here are old enough (hand raised) to remember when police departments had call boxes on street corners for Officers to use when they were requested to call the station?
I'm old enough to remember it, but not old enough to have used one! :smile:
vBulletin® v3.8.7, Copyright ©2000-2012, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.