What is a Call Box?
Each
call box is a battery-powered, solar-charged roadside cellular telephone.
Call boxes are easy to spot (bright yellow box on an aluminum post with
a royal blue identifying sign) and are conveniently located next to highways
and freeways. Call boxes are usually placed in pairs across from each
other approximately one-half mile to one mile apart in urban areas, with
greater spacing
in rural areas.
In both San Bernardino and Riverside counties, the system of call boxes is operated in close coordination with both the California Highway Patrol (CHP) and the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans). A professional Call Answering Center answers the call box calls, transfers them when appropriate, and public safety assistance such as law enforcement, paramedic and fire control are dispatched by the California Highway Patrol when needed.