§ 5-71-210 — Communicating a false alarm

(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) Cause action of any sort by an official or volunteer agency organized to deal with emergencies; (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) Cause total or partial evacuation of any occupiable structure, vehicle, or vital public facility. (b) (1) (A) Communicating a false alarm is a Class C felony if physical injury to a person results. (B) Communicating a false alarm is a Class D felony if: (i) Damage to property results; or (ii) The false alarm communicates a present or impending bombing and is made to or about a public or private educational institution. (2) (A) If there is no resulting physical injury or damage to property, communicating a false alarm is a Class A misdemeanor. (B) A second or subsequent offense that would otherwise be a Class A misdemeanor is a Class D felony. (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.

Legislative History

Acts 1975, No. 280, § 2911; A.S.A. 1947, § 41-2911; Acts 2001, No. 567, § 1; 2003, No. 1342, § 4.