Indiana State Police are not on board with a new amber alert sent to your phone

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - When a child goes missing, an amber alert is issued. The goal is get the information in front of as many people as quickly as possible.

But, not all law enforcement supports a new alert that would be sent directly to your phone.

The new alert is called commercial mobile alert system. The idea is when a child is abducted, you would get that alert directly to your phone, whether you know it or not.

“It’s a loud audible sound and it will startle you,” explains Captain David Bursten with Indiana State Police.

The FCC created this alert system that reaches 97% of the population. Captain Dave Bursten says the problem is it's not up to you if you want to be notified its automatic.

“Our concern is that if you're driving you may be startled by that sound could lose control of your car the least issue may be getting involved in a property damage accident or you might be involved in something more serious that results in injury or death,” says Captain Bursten.

Distracted drivers are always a concern for police and Captain Bursten says an unexpected alarm from your phone would take the driver's attention away from where it should be on the road.

“The state of Indiana decided not to participate in that version of the amber alert notification so we turned that application off,” says Captain Bursten.

Captain Bursten says right now, ISP is looking into it's own mobile alert system. He says the system would probably come across as a text message, and cell phone users would have to opt into the system to get the alerts.