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Tuesday, 27 January 2026 11:00
By Marcie Culbert @marcieculbert
Constable Randi Crawford called the Heart FM studio for the first Tip Tuesday of 2026.
OXFORD –  It was the first Tip Tuesday of the year for Oxford OPP.
Community Safety and Media Relations Officer Randi Crawford was able to join Dan and Marcie on the phone this morning, after being off on medical leave for the past few months.
Some of the questions centered around 911 calls, crosswalks, and the Automated Licence Plate Recognition system. 
You can find the complete breakdown of the questions answered below:
1) Can emergency services track your cellphone location while you're calling 911?
Constable Crawford says they pinpoint your location, but technology isn't always perfect so you should always tell them where you are.
"That way if there is a glitch and we're not able to triangulate the call, they can start sending resources to that address and if you stay on the line we can gather more information."
The stressed that it's important that you know where you are, but providing information such as where you were heading and landmarks can also help point emergency crews in the right direction.
Constable Crawford also made sure to mention that a lot of cellphones can still call 911, even if they are not linked to a phone plan. This is very important information, especially for parents that let their kids play with their old cellphones.
"Please make sure that you review proper 911 calling with your children and let them know that you can accidentally call from those devices."
2) What is the proper procedure for drivers and pedestrians at crosswalks?
Constable Crawford says the law is clear, but its also the bare minimum.
"A driver must wait for the pedestrian to completely cross the crosswalk onto the curb or sidewalk. That is the legal definition, but the courteous definition is to make sure that everyone is completely crossed and no one else is coming."
She adds being courteous goes both ways. If a pedestrian is approaching a crosswalk right when it's about to change, they should wait for it to change over again, instead of rushing through the intersection.
Pedestrians should also wait until the vehicle approaching comes to a complete stop before they enter the intersection, especially when it's snowy and icy during the winter months.
3) How to licence plate readers work and what information can they collect.
The Oxford OPP utilize the Automated Licence Plate Recognition system, also known as the ALPR. It automatically scans the licence plates nearby, so the officer can focus on driving.
Constable Crawford says a lot of information they receive is traffic related.
"It alerts us when they haven't renewed their licence plate and when they have an expired or suspended licence for medical purpose, an impaired charge or something like that."
She adds the ALPR can also notify them if the vehicle was stolen or of it's connected to another police investigation, like a missing persons case or Amber Alert.
It's also important to note that sometimes the technology isn't perfect. There have been cases where the ALPR misreads a licence plate, especially in the snowy conditions. If this happens to you, don't panic and cooperate with the police officer while they check your information. You'll be on your way once they realize their mistake.
With all of the crazy whether we have been receiving, OPP officers have been reminding drivers out there to give themselves from extra time to get to where you need to go. Constable Crawford says it doesn't have to be an hour to make a difference.
"If you were to give yourself five extra minutes as a pedestrian and as a driver, when you come across a pedestrian crosswalk, let's say it takes 30 seconds for the children to cross and then you come across a crossing guard and it takes them one minute to cross. You are still ahead of your usual routine so you should find that you're not as stressed and don't feel as rushed."
Boston Pizza in Woodstock is also hosting Pizza for a Purpose tonight in support of Crime Stoppers of Oxford County. Constable Crawford is encouraging everyone to stop by and support the cause.
"I am a Crime Stoppers Coordinator, so I get the tips sent to the OPP and I distribute them to the officers. So I never who sends these tips, but I can tell you that they're making a difference."
Tickets will be available at the door and you can find more information online here.
The next Tip Tuesday is scheduled for Tuesday, February 24th and you can submit a question online here.

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