§ 644:3 — False Public Alarms

I. Any person who directly or indirectly communicates to any governmental agency that commonly deals with emergencies involving danger to life or property a report known by him to be false regarding a fire, explosion, or other catastrophe or emergency, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor; except if the report concerns the presence of an active shooter, the presence of an explosive device, or the presence of a biological or chemical substance, the offense shall constitute a class B felony.
II. Any person who directly or indirectly communicates to any school, business, office building, hospital, or similar facility open to the public, a report concerning the presence of an active shooter, the presence of an explosive device, or the presence of a biological or chemical substance, knowing such report is false, shall be guilty of a class B felony.
III. Any person who knowingly delivers, or causes the delivery of any substance the actor knows could reasonably be perceived as a biological or chemical substance, with the purpose of causing fear or terrorism and with reckless disregard for the risk that emergency services will be dispatched as a result of such delivery, shall be guilty of a class B felony.
IV. This section shall not apply to false alarms subject to RSA 644:3-a or RSA 644:3-b, or false reports under RSA 158:38.

Legislative History

1971, 518:1. 1975, 25:1. 1981, 553:3. 2002, 222:8, eff. Jan. 1, 2003. 2023, 104:1, eff. Jan. 1, 2024.