Queensland's emergency response triple-zero phone number has received calls asking how long it takes to roast a chicken; to order a taxi; and complaining that a cab driver wouldn't wind up their window.
Police say up to 60 per cent of triple-zero calls are made from mobile phones, and they blame many of the false emergencies on people running out of credit on their mobiles - because it is a free call.
"A man whose mobile phone was out of credit and was late to meet his girlfriend rang triple-zero asking someone to call his girlfriend for him," said operations support command Superintendent Brian Codd.
"Up to 60 per cent of triple-zero calls are now received from mobile phones.
"People are aware this is a free number they can call even when they don't have any credit," Superintendent Codd said.
He said people should dial the emergency number only for life-threatening, time-critical emergencies.
With as many as 5000 triple-zero calls per week and as many as 95 per cent of these calls for non-emergency reasons, police communications say they unnecessarily test the capacity to respond to genuine emergencies.
As few as 100 might require an immediate or urgent response.
"People also ring about minor non-injury traffic crashes which could simply be handled by drivers exchanging details," Supt Codd said.
"We appeal to people to use common sense and leave the triple-zero lines open for real emergencies."
Supt Codd said while the federal Australian Communications and Media Authority had considered denying access to triple-zero for repeated vexatious callers, the police service had no intention of compromising the emergency system.