State Senators Pass 911 Call Bill

State senators have passed a bill that would allow law enforcement agencies to release transcripts or altered voice reproductions of 911 calls, instead of the original recordings.

Under state law, the names and addresses of 911 callers must be withheld from released recordings of those calls. But their voices are sometimes recognizable to criminal perpetrators, says Democrat Floyd McKissick of Durham.

"Sometimes people call into 911, if it's heard on a tv station, radio station, the like, those persons that might've made that call have been intimidated and in the end it's difficult to prosecute particular cases."

McKissick says Senate Bill 98 doesn't require agencies to provide transcripts or offer voice enhanced protection- it simply allows them to do so if they choose. The measure passed overwhelmingly and now goes to the House.