There are now 12 states that have implemented Silver Alert systems, which in most cases piggyback the current AMBER Alert system. While legislators applaud their own actions, authorities continue to debate the consequences of activating too many AMBER Alerts.
Highway Silver Alerts May Make Amber Alerts Less Effective
Florida Highway Patrol sergeant Kim Miller says FHP has issued as many as three of the alerts in one day. Miller says the department never expected to see such a high volume of them.
The program went into effect October 16th. It’s modeled after the Amber Alert but is meant to find people 60 years or older who suffer from such illnesses as Alzheimer’s or dementia. A half-a-million people statewide are affected with diseases such as those. Eighteen-hundred disappeared at some point last year.
Since October 16th there have been 20 Silver Alerts issued, compared to 11 Amber Alerts for all of 2008. If Silver Alerts continue at this pace, Florida is on track to see roughly 150 by next October.
Active Florida AMBER Alerts
