Consequences for Making a 911 Prank Call
Making a prank phone call to 911 is a serious crime, punishable by jail time and significant fines. Calling 911 for any reason other than reporting an actual emergency is against the law. However, the legal consequences you will face are determined on a state-by-state basis.
What Happens if You Call 911 Accidentally and Hang Up?
If you call 911, as soon as you hit the send button the call will be completed no matter how fast you hang up. Once you're in the 911 system, you can't get out until a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) dispatcher answers the call. Stay on the line and tell the operator your situation.
What is Swatting?
Swatting is a type of harassment in which attackers try to trick police forces into sending forces to a victim's home or business. People who engage in swatting usually tell the police that the victim is a violent criminal or is holding hostages. These sorts of reports cause police to act quickly, usually without verifying the report, to stop the supposed criminal as fast as possible.
Consequences of Swatting?
Federal laws consider swatting a serious crime in which a conviction can result in years in prison. The punishment for swatting offenses varies between jurisdictions. A misdemeanor offense where no one was injured might be punished by up to a year in county jail in some states. When someone is harmed, the punishment is going to be greater. In California, for example, a swatting offense that leads to serious injury or death carries a sentence of up to 3 years in prison.
What is Doxing?
Doxing refers to the act of revealing identifying information about a person online, such as their real name, home address, workplace, phone, financial, and other personal information. That information is then circulated to the public — without the victim's permission.
Read Also:
- Is it Illegal to Have Sex in Public?
- Can an 18-Year-Old Date a 16-Year-Old?
- How do Police Handle Anonymous Tips?
Hiring an experienced lawyer to fight your charges may cost less than accepting a guilty plea without contesting, so don't hesitate and call a criminal defense attorney for a free case evaluation.
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