AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - Republican Gov. Greg Abbott has signed a law requiring that hotels and motels make it easier to dial 911.
Abbott signed the bill Friday alongside the family of Kari Hart Dunn, who was stabbed to death in a Texas motel in 2013. Her then-9-year-old daughter tried calling 911 four times for help but couldn’t reach an outside line because of the motel phone system.
Abbott said new rules - known as “Kari’s Law” - will help ensure that anyone who dials 911 during an emergency will be able to connect.
Many hotels currently require callers to dial “9’’ first or have some other system, such as calling first to the front desk. Advocates who pushed for the change say can lead to panic and confusion in an emergency.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.