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