Unlawful Conduct During 9-1-1 Call

  1. Law
  2. Georgia Code
  3. Crimes and Offenses
  4. Offenses Against Public Order and Safety
  5. Offenses Against Public Order
  6. Unlawful Conduct During 9-1-1 Call

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  1. As used in this Code section, the term:
    1. "Call" shall have the same meaning as set forth in paragraph (2.1) of Code Section 46-5-122.
    2. "False report" means the fabrication of an incident or crime or of material information relating to an incident or crime which the person making the report knows to be false at the time of making the report.
    3. "Harass" means to knowingly and willingly engage in any conduct directed toward a communications officer that is likely to impede or interfere with such communications officer's duties, that threatens such communication officer or any member of his or her family, or that places any member of the public served or to be served by 9-1-1 service in danger of injury or delayed assistance.
    4. "Harassing" means the willful use of opprobrious and abusive language which has no legitimate purpose in relation to imparting information relevant to an emergency call.
    5. "9-1-1" means a public safety answering point as defined in paragraph (15) of Code Section 46-5-122. The term "9-1-1" also means the digits, address, Internet Protocol address, or other information used to access or initiate a call to a public safety answering point.
  2. A person commits the offense of unlawful conduct during a 9-1-1 telephone call if he or she:
    1. Without provocation, uses obscene, vulgar, or profane language with the intent to intimidate or harass a 9-1-1 communications officer;
    2. Calls or otherwise contacts 9-1-1, whether or not conversation ensues, for the purpose of annoying, harassing, or molesting a 9-1-1 communications officer or for the purpose of interfering with or disrupting emergency telephone service;
    3. Calls or otherwise contacts 9-1-1 and fails to hang up or disengage the connection for the intended purpose of interfering with or disrupting emergency service;
    4. Calls or otherwise contacts 9-1-1 with the intention to harass a communications officer; or
    5. Calls or otherwise contacts 9-1-1 and makes a false report.
  3. Any person who violates subsection (b) of this Code section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine of not more than $500.00 or 12 months in jail, or both.
  4. Any violation of subsection (b) of this Code section shall be considered to have been committed in any county where such call to or contact with 9-1-1 originated or in any county where the call to or contact with 9-1-1 was received.

(Code 1981, §16-11-39.2, enacted by Ga. L. 2007, p. 318, § 1/HB 394.)

Cross references.

- Emergency telephone9-1-1 system, § 46-5-120 et seq.

Law reviews.

- For survey article on local government law, see 59 Mercer L. Rev. 285 (2007).

OPINIONS OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

Fingerprinting.

- Any misdemeanor offenses arising under O.C.G.A. § 16-11-39.2(b) are designated as offenses for which those charged are to be fingerprinted. 2010 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 2010-2.


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