SECTION 1. Chapter 269 Section 14B is hereby amended by adding the following: -
(c) Whoever willfully and maliciously communicates with a PSAP or police officer, or causes a communication to be made to a PSAP or police officer, which communication transmits information which the person knows or has reason to know is false and which results in the dispatch of emergency services to a nonexistent emergency, with the intent to annoy or harass another person and if police are dispatched as a result of the telephone call, shall be punished by imprisonment in the house of correction for not more than 2 ½ years, or by a fine of not more than $2,500, or by both such fine and imprisonment. Whoever commits a second or subsequent violation of this section shall be punished by imprisonment in the house of correction for not more than 2 ½ years or by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than 5 years or by a fine of not more than $7,500, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
(d) Whoever willfully and maliciously communicates with a PSAP or police officer, or causes a communication to be made to a PSAP or police officer, which communication transmits information which the person knows or has reason to know is false and which results in the dispatch of emergency services to a nonexistent emergency, with the intent to annoy or harass another person and if police are dispatched and any person sustains bodily injury as a result of conduct arising out of and in the course of the police being dispatched, shall be punished by imprisonment in the house of correction for not more than 2 ½ years, or by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than 5 years, by a fine of not more than $5,000 or by both such fine and imprisonment. Whoever commits a second or subsequent violation of this section shall be punished by imprisonment in the house of correction for not more than 2 ½ years or by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than 10 years or by a fine of not more than $10,000, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
(e) Whoever willfully and maliciously communicates with a PSAP or police officer, or causes a communication to be made to a PSAP or police officer, which communication transmits information which the person knows or has reason to know is false and which results in the dispatch of emergency services to a nonexistent emergency, with the intent to annoy or harass another person and if police are dispatched and any person sustained death as a result of conduct arising out of and in the course of the police being dispatched, is guilty of manslaughter punishable under Chapter 265 Section 13.
(f) This section shall not apply to telephone calls made in good faith.
The information contained in this website is for general information purposes only. The General Court provides this information as a public service and while we endeavor to keep the data accurate and current to the best of our ability, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information contained on the website for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk.