{"id":8470,"date":"2023-02-23T04:03:34","date_gmt":"2023-02-23T04:03:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lawpedic.com\/?p=8470"},"modified":"2023-03-25T00:01:44","modified_gmt":"2023-03-25T00:01:44","slug":"is-it-illegal-to-call-the-police-for-no-reason","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lawpedic.com\/is-it-illegal-to-call-the-police-for-no-reason\/","title":{"rendered":"Is It Illegal To Call The Police For No Reason?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

It is illegal to make an unlawful request for emergency service assistance, which includes knowingly transmitting false or misleading information to request law enforcement, fire, medical, or other emergency services when there is no reasonable ground for believing such assistance is needed. Violating this law can result in a range of penalties, including misdemeanor or felony charges, depending on the severity of the offense and the harm caused by the response from emergency services. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Continue reading to learn the law, penalties, and potential defenses to falsely calling the police.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Does The Law Say?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you’ve accidentally sat down on your phone and accidentally dialed the police then you know how easy it is to call the police by accident. In this instance, this isn’t want were talking about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the state of Kansas, they provide a clear example of when it becomes a crime to call the police for no reason. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kansas summarizes this as an unlawful request for emergency service assistance<\/a> and states that it can be described as “Making an unlawful request for emergency service assistance is transmitting or communicating false or misleading information in any manner to request emergency service assistance including law enforcement, fire, medical or other emergency services, knowing at the time of such request there is no reasonable ground for believing such assistance is needed.<\/em>”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Potential Charges<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you haven’t become familiar with both a misdemeanor<\/a> and felony<\/a>, then I would recommend reading into them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here’s a list of penalties for making an unlawful request for emergency service assistance:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Class A nonperson misdemeanor, except as provided in subsections (b)(2)-(6)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Severity level 10, nonperson felony if an electronic device or software is used to conceal the source or identity of the request, except as provided in subsections (b)(3)-(6)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Severity level 7, nonperson felony if false information is given about violent criminal activity, immediate threat to a person’s life or safety, or public safety, except as provided in subsections (b)(4)-(6)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Severity level 6, person felony if bodily harm results from the response by emergency services, except as provided in subsections (b)(5) and (b)(6)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Severity level 4, person felony if great bodily harm results from the response by emergency services, except as provided in subsection (b)(6)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. Severity level 1, person felony if death results from the response by emergency services.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Offenders may also be prosecuted for interference with law enforcement, and it is not a defense that the person who suffered harm contributed to it. Additionally, violators may also be prosecuted for any form of homicide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Potential Punishments<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Now that you’ve read into the possible charges and the different criteria that need to be charged, these are the punishments that come with each one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n