| When you dial 911 in West Virginia, odds are that call is going to a 911 center in the county you are located, with some exception.
Last year, Del. Ron Walters and other Republican leaders said running all of those centers, is costing needless millions.
"We pay $40 million a year in 911 fees," Walters, R-Kanawha, said.
In an effort to try to lower that number, Walters introduced a bill in 2017 that will likely be entered in the legislature again, asking the state Public Service Commission to do a study to see if it would be feasible to have six regional 911 centers spread throughout the state.
"New technology is coming, and that technology will be in the form of an app," Walters said.
In 2017, Walters said nothing is set in stone right now. If the bill is passed, Walters said the PSC could come back and say the state needs more than six regional centers or less. The potential of moving from county 911 centers to regional ones drew lots of criticism.
"The idea of making it bigger or consolidating or bringing in other counties, the sheriff's department opposes it, the police departments oppose, the Kanawha County Commission opposes it," said Kanawha County Commission President Kent Carper.
Walters said a city in Texas is already using an app for 911 calls. He said by using the app, the 911 center can pinpoint your location within 50 feet.
"The new technology is coming. As quick as we can take advantage of the new technology, the better," Walters said.
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