Texas Family Comes To L.I. To Show Support For Proposed 'Kari's Law'
HAUPPAUGE, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- The death of a Texas woman has fueled legislation in Suffolk County to end the need to dial 9 from hotel phones before dialing 911 during an emergency.
Legislators Steve Stern and Robert Trotta introduced "Kari's Law" Thursday, 1010 WINS' Mona Rivera reported.
Web Extra: National Petition For Kari's Law
The legislation is named after Kari Hunt Dunn, a Texas mother who was murdered in a hotel room. Dunn's 9-year-old daughter tried calling 911, but couldn't reach anyone because the hotel required people to dial 9 before the number.
Texas Family Comes To L.I. To Show Support For Proposed 'Kari's Law'
"All I know is she called 911 and nobody answered," said the girl's grandfather Henry Hunt. "I think if a 9-year-old child, under the circumstances she was going through, is mature enough and has the wherewithal to dial 911, she should hear someone say '911 what is your emergency.'"
John Tsunis, head of the New York State Hospitality and Tourism Association, is in support of the bill.
"It's not just hospitality, it's safety first. This is a no brainer," Tsunis told WCBS 880's Mike Xirinachs.
Texas Family Comes To L.I. To Show Support For Proposed 'Kari's Law'
Hunt said he believes eliminating the need to dial 9 first might have saved his daughter's life.
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