[§710-1014.5] Misuse of 911 emergency
telephone service.  (1)  A person commits the offense of misuse of 911
emergency telephone service if the person accesses the telephone number 911
and:



(a) Knowingly causes a false alarm; or



(b) Makes a false complaint or a report of false
information in reckless disregard of the risk that a public safety agency will
respond by dispatching emergency services.



(2)  Misuse of 911 emergency telephone service
is a misdemeanor.



(3)  For purposes of this section, "public
safety agency" means any federal, state, or county police, fire, emergency
medical service, or civil defense relief agency. [L 2005, c 17, §1]



COMMENTARY ON §710-1014.5



 



  Act 17, Session Laws 2005, established as a misdemeanor
offense, the misuse of 911 emergency telephone service, when an individual
accesses 911 and knowingly causes a false alarm or recklessly makes a false
complaint or report.  The legislature found that the Act would prevent public
safety agencies from wasting their time on false alarms and ensure that
legitimate emergency requests were not hampered by the abuse of the emergency
system.  Senate Standing Committee Report No. 1297, House Standing Committee
Report No. 129.