A Florida man who was stopped for speeding used his mobile phone to call 911 and report a fake crime nearby, hoping to get out of the ticket. Now, instead of a simple traffic citation, the man faces felony charges, which include jail time.
The advent of the mobile phone has changed life for the better in many ways, and there's no bigger example of that than the improvements in the quality of life that have come from use of cell phones in cars. Drivers experiencing car problems, sudden health issues, threats or other emergencies now have immediate access to help while in their vehicle.
A Florida man took advantage of mobile phone technology for all the wrong reasons, when he used the system to try to avoid a speeding ticket. Julius Lupowitz, 52, was pulled over by a cop in West Melbourne, Fla., for speeding. When the officer went back to his car to write up the ticket, Lupowitz had the bright idea of faking an emergency nearby, hoping the officer who pulled him over would be called to respond and would have to let his speeding violation go.
He used his mobile phone to call 911, and proclaimed to the emergency operator: "There's definitely someone going to get shot. Please, please. Wingate and Hollywood. Please. There's a man with a gun. I see him looking at me but I don't think he sees I'm on a cell phone. I swear I'm so scared I might get killed myself. Please."
Lupowitz expected the officer writing his ticket to be called away to the fake crime scene, but instead, he remained while other cops were dispatched. In the meantime, the 911 operator traced the call and announced the name of the caller over the police radio system.
"Our officer was standing at the door of Mr. Lupowitz's vehicle and realized, at that point, that this was the same person that was making the 911 calls," said West Melbourne Police Lt. Richard Cordeau.
Now, instead of a simple $200 traffic fine, Lupowitz faces up to five years of jail time for the felony of making fake 911 calls.
