19-5-317 - Abusive calls prohibited; sanctions. - Mississippi Statutes

§ 19-5-317. Abusive calls prohibited; sanctions.
 

(1)  When there is not an emergency, no person shall make a telephone call to an emergency telephone service and knowingly or intentionally: 

(a) Remain silent; 

(b) Make abusive or harassing statements to an emergency telephone service employee; 

(c) Report the existence of an emergency; or 

(d) Falsely report a crime. 

(2)  No person shall knowingly permit a telephone under his control to be used by another person in a manner described in subsection (1) of this section. 

(3)  Conviction of a first offense under this section is punishable by a fine not to exceed Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) or by imprisonment for a period of time not to exceed one (1) year, or by both such fine and imprisonment. Conviction of any subsequent offense under this section is punishable by a fine not to exceed Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00) or by imprisonment for a period of time not to exceed three (3) years, or by both such fine and imprisonment. 

(4)  For the purpose of this section, "emergency telephone service" shall mean a service established under Section 19-5-301 et seq., Mississippi Code of 1972, or established under the provisions of a local and private act enacted prior to October 20, 1987. 
 

Sources: Laws,  1992, ch. 447, § 1; Laws, 1997, ch. 409, § 1, eff from and after July 1, 1997.