§ 14-196. Using profane, indecent or threatening language to any person over telephone; annoying or harassing by repeated telephoning or making false statements over telephone. - North Carolina Statutes

§14‑196.  Using profane, indecent or threatening language to any personover telephone; annoying or harassing by repeated telephoning or making falsestatements over telephone.

(a)        It shall beunlawful for any person:

(1)        To use in telephoniccommunications any words or language of a profane, vulgar, lewd, lascivious orindecent character, nature or connotation;

(2)        To use in telephoniccommunications any words or language threatening to inflict bodily harm to anyperson or to that person's child, sibling, spouse, or dependent or physicalinjury to the property of any person, or for the purpose of extorting money orother things of value from any person;

(3)        To telephone anotherrepeatedly, whether or not conversation ensues, for the purpose of abusing, annoying,threatening, terrifying, harassing or embarrassing any person at the callednumber;

(4)        To make a telephonecall and fail to hang up or disengage the connection with the intent to disruptthe service of another;

(5)        To telephone anotherand to knowingly make any false statement concerning death, injury, illness,disfigurement, indecent conduct or criminal conduct of the person telephoned orof any member of his family or household with the intent to abuse, annoy,threaten, terrify, harass, or embarrass;

(6)        To knowingly permitany telephone under his control to be used for any purpose prohibited by thissection.

(b)        Any of the aboveoffenses may be deemed to have been committed at either the place at which thetelephone call or calls were made or at the place where the telephone call orcalls were received. For purposes of this section, the term "telephoniccommunications" shall include communications made or received by way of atelephone answering machine or recorder, telefacsimile machine, or computermodem.

(c)        Anyone violatingthe provisions of this section shall be guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor. (1913,c. 35; 1915, c. 41; C.S., s. 4351; 1967, c. 833, s. 1; 1989, c. 305; 1993, c.539, s. 128; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c); 1999‑262, s. 1; 2000‑125,s. 2.)