§ 642:10 — Obstructing Report of Crime or Injury

I. A person shall be guilty of an offense under this section who disconnects, damages, disables, removes, or uses physical force or intimidation to block access to any telephone, radio, or other electronic communication device with a purpose to obstruct, prevent, or interfere with:
(a) The report of any criminal offense to any law enforcement agency; or
(b) The report of any bodily injury or property damage to any law enforcement agency; or
(c) A request for ambulance or emergency medical assistance to any governmental agency, or any hospital, doctor, or other medical service provider.
II. It shall be an affirmative defense to prosecution under this section that the actor reasonably believed his conduct to be necessary to prevent a criminal false alarm.
III. Obstructing report of a crime or injury is a misdemeanor.

Legislative History

1994, 304:1, eff. Jan. 1, 1995.