WILL HAVE IN THE 4-DAY
FORECAST.
>> ALL RIGHT THANK YOU MUCH.
>>> PHONEY MAY DAY CALLS TO THE
COAST GUARD STATIONS WATCHING
OVER THE GREAT LAKES ARE UP
THIS YEAR.
THE NUMBER OF HOAX CALLS HAVE
TRIPLED COMPARED TO THIS TIME
LAST YEAR.
THE NOW DETROISIMON -- SYMA
CHOWDHRY IS LIVE.
HOW MANY CALLS HAVE BEEN MADE
TO THE COAST GUARD STATIONS.
>> Reporter: WARE TALKING
ABOUT 160 FAKE CALLS JUST HERE
IN THE GREAT LAKES REGION.
NOW, THIS TIME LAST YEAR, WE
ARE TALKING ABOUT 55 FAKE
CALLS.
NOW COAST GUARD OFFICIALS SAY
CALLS LIKE THAT JEOPARDIZE
MANPOWER THAT'S NEEDED FOR THE
REAL CALLS.
>> WE HEAR MAY DAY IN THE
COMMAND SENT ARE WE HEAR
DISTRESS AND ONE IS IN TROUBLE.
WE HEAR WE NEED TO RESPOND.
>> Reporter: FAKE, PHONEY
HOAX,WHATEVER YOU CALL IT CALLS
LIKE THIS PUT RESPONDERS AND
WOATERS -- BOATERS AT RISK.
IT HAMPERS THE ABILITY TO
RESPOND TO SOMEONE ELSE WHO
NEEDS HELP AND EVERY TIME THEY
REACT, THEY ARE PUTTING THEIR
LIVES ON THE LINE.
>> WHEN WE GET A CALL, WE CAN
ONLY WORK WITH THE INFORMATION
GIVEN TO US.
SO ONE OF THE DIFFICULTIES IS
ESTABLISHING YOU KNOW WHAT IS
REAL AND WHAT IS NOT.
>> Reporter: WHAT'S REAL?
SO FAR THIS YEAR, 60 LIVES HAVE
BEEN SAVED IN THE DETROIT
REGION.
BUT WE ARE IN THE HALFWAY MARK
OF 2017 AND THIS YEAR THE COAST
GUARD STATIONS MANNING THE
GREAT LAKES HAVE GOTTEN 160
HOAX CALLS.
THAT'S NEARLY TRIPLE COMPARED
TO THIS TIME LAST YEAR.
COAST GUARD OFFICIALS SAY A LOT
OF TIMES IT COULD BE ADULTS AND
CHILDREN PLAYING AROUND WITH
THE RADIO.
>> YOU KNOW, UNFOR THE UNTIL
THELY, WHEN SOMEONE --
UNFORTUNATELY, WHEN SOMEONE
SEES A RADIO AND WHAT DO YOU
SEE WHEN YOU SEE IT PEOPLE SAY
MAY DAY IN THE MOVIES.
>> Reporter: BUT ONCE THEY HEAR
THAT THEY HAVE TO TAKE THE CALL
SERIOUSLY.
>> IT IS TAKING AWAY OUR
ABILITY TO RESPOND.
FURT, IF SOMEONE IS PLAYING ON
A HALING AND DISTRESS
FREQUENCY,IF IT'S.
>> THE REAL CALL THEY ARE
POTENTIALLY BLOCKING SOMEONE
ELSE WHO MAY BE IN TROUBLE.
>> Reporter: AND PEOPLE MAKING
THESE FAKE DISTRESS CALLS COULD
FACE UP TO 6 YEARS IN PRISON
AND UP TO 250,000 DOLLARS IN
FINES.
NOW BACK TO YOU.
>> THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY WEARE
TALKING ABOUT.
WHY SUCH A HEFTY FINE, SIMA.
>> Reporter: WRY -- SYMA.
>> Reporter: YOU ARE TALKING
ABOUT TAXPAYER MONEY WHEN YOU
THINK ABOUT HOW MUCH IS SPENT
WHEN THEY RESPOND TO CALLS.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT EVERY
INDIVIDUAL CREW MEMBER
RESPONDING.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE FUEL
FOR EACH VESSEL INVOLVED.
IF THEYARE USING HELICOPTERS,
THINK ABOUT THE FUEL FOR THAT.
MAINTENANCE HOURS THAT GO INTO
MAINTAINING THESE ITEMS THIS
THEY USE, ALL THE THINGS AND
YOU THINK ABOUT SEVERAL
THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.
AGAIN, UP TO 250,000 DOLLARS.
SO, AGAIN, THIS IS WHY COAST
GUARD OFFICIALS WANT TO GET THE
WORD OUT AND MAKE SURE FOLKS
TAKE THIS VERY SERIOUSLY, AND
MAYBE REALLY COL TO LOOK AT THE
-- AND IT MAY BE COOL TO LOOK
AT THE RADIO BUT YOU HAVE TO
TREAT IT LIKE IT'S A 911 PHONE
CALL.
YOU DON'T MAKE A FAKE 911 PHONE
CALL, SO DON'T MAKE ONE ON A
BOAT.
>> SO RIGHT ABOUT THAT.
BECAUSE WHEN SOMEBODY REALLY
NEEDS THEM, THEY NEED TO BE
THERE.
