Communicating a false alarm

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  1. (a) A person commits the offense of communicating a false alarm if he or she purposely initiates or circulates a report of a present, past, or impending bombing, fire, offense, catastrophe, or other emergency while knowing that the report is false or baseless and knowing that it is likely to:

    1. (1) Cause action of any sort by an official or volunteer agency organized to deal with emergencies;

    2. (2) Place any person in fear of physical injury to himself or herself or another person or of damage to his or her property or that of another person; or

    3. (3) Cause total or partial evacuation of any occupiable structure, vehicle, or vital public facility.

  2. (b)

    1. (1)

      1. (A) Communicating a false alarm is a Class C felony if physical injury to a person results.

      2. (B) Communicating a false alarm is a Class D felony if:

        1. (i) Damage to property results; or

        2. (ii) The false alarm communicates a present or impending bombing and is made to or about a public or private educational institution.

    2. (2)

      1. (A) If there is no resulting physical injury or damage to property, communicating a false alarm is a Class A misdemeanor.

      2. (B) A second or subsequent offense that would otherwise be a Class A misdemeanor is a Class D felony.

  3. (c) In addition to any other restitution ordered under § 5-4-205, the court may order that a person who violates this section make restitution to the State of Arkansas or any of its political subdivisions for any cleanup costs associated with the commission of the offense.


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