Technology is both a tool and a weapon, as is amply illustrated by the Napa Police Department’s announcement this week that it is ready to accept anonymous text messages conveying tips about crime.

It is a savvy move by the police department, as it seems nearly everybody under a certain age is spending an inordinate amount of time sending text messages on their cell phones and PDAs, even when those people are in class or on the job or nominally listening to what someone else has to say.

If that is the form younger people use to communicate, and clearly it is, then the police are smart to get with the times and make it easy for potential witnesses or victims to rapidly tell what they know.

Texters hoping to reach the police can use the code 707NPD and send information to tip411 (847411).  According to the Napa Police Department, here is the cell phone set up for tip411:

1. Under ‘Contacts’ on your cell phone, establish a new contact or group titled “847411” or “TIP411” and save it.

2. Go to your text messaging as you would to send a text message to someone.

3. In the “To” block (addressed to message recipient), type in “847411”.

4. Drop to your text box and type “707NPD” in the body of the message, followed by a space.  (Letters are not case sensitive, and the quote marks are not necessary as a part of the message.)  Type in your crime tip.

5.  Push “send” once your crime tip is complete.

Once the crime tip is sent, you will receive a message from CitizenObserver indicating the message has been forwarded to the Napa Police Department. The Napa Police Department can respond to the sender to ask for additional information.  If the sender does not want any further contact, the sender only needs to push the “stop” or “end” button on their phone and the contact between the sender and the Napa Police Department is broken. Note that text message charges may apply to your account, depending on the terms of the service. 

Of course, texting also can be risky behavior, most notably when those who just can‘t keep their hands off their phones try to send messages while driving. Texting while driving is an unconscionably bad idea and was banned by a law that went into effect in California last year.

However, it appears that law is widely ignored, as is the broader prohibition against using a phone when driving unless employing devices that allow a driver to talk and listen without using their hands.

So go ahead, text the police. Just pull over first.