Requesting a stake-out "After Hours"

Dig|Safely. New York is open to receive all types of location requests from excavators during normal business hours from 7 am until 5 pm, Monday through Friday.

Outside of business hours, Dig|Safely. New York is able to take emergency location requests and regular location requests only (during evenings, overnights, weekends and holidays).

Regular location requests are processed per usual, and counted as being entered on the revelvent business day.

Emergency requests are a different animal, however - Most facility operators are not required to respond to emergency requests, with the primary exceptions being gas and petroleum companies. While most operators will respond, be forwarned that the law says that you are pretty much responsible for anything you hit, whether an operator has responded or not, or whether a facility was marked out or not.

What constitutes an emergency?.

A situation is considered to be an emergency if, in your judgement, an immediate excavation is required to prevent or resolve an immediate threat to life, property, or public welfare. [ Show me the law! ]

There is no such thing as a scheduled emergency. Dig|Safely. New York can only accept an emergency location request if your excavating crew is on-site and ready to dig.

"Failure to plan on your part does not constitute a crisis on mine."

Excavators who abuse Emergency Requests may find themselves subject to the wrath of angry utilities and locators, as well as fines, penalties, and other legal actions taken by the State Attorney General.