In the case of emergency, some say cell phone use would be okay, but it’s best to step outside if you need to talk or text. At South York Cinemas, in York Township, people say they feel safe when they go to the movies. At the same time, you’re surrounded by strangers. If asked to turn of your phone, you may react differently than others. Sergeant Jeff Dunbar, of the York Area Regional Police Department says it may seem like a simple request, but that’s not always the case. He says there’s a safe way to handle the situation.
“If you can’t come to a resolution just by speaking with the individual yourself, then you should go to management and let them handle the situation,” says Dunbar.
Theatergoer, Colleen Berkey says, “I don’t think I would ever tell an adult not to text. You don’t know how people are going to react.”
Dunbar says officer are trained to respond to movie theater situations should the matter become violent, such as the case in Tampa.