§ 39-16-502 — False reports

Tennessee § 39-16-502

• Jurisdiction: Tennessee
• Title: 39

Text

(a) It is unlawful for any person to: (1) Initiate a report or statement to a law enforcement officer concerning an offense or incident within the officer's concern knowing that: (A) The offense or incident reported did not occur; (B) The person has no information relating to the offense or incident reported; or (C) The information relating to the offense reported is false; or (2) Make a report or statement in response to a legitimate inquiry by a law enforcement officer concerning a material fact about an offense or incident within the officer's concern, knowing that the report or statement is false and with the intent to obstruct or hinder the officer from: (A) Preventing the offense or incident from occurring or continuing to occur; or (B) Apprehending or locating another person suspected of committing an offense; or (3) Intentionally initiate or circulate a report of a past, present, or impending bombing, active shooter, hostage situation, fire, or other emergency, knowing that the report is false or baseless and knowing: (A) It will cause action of any sort by an official or volunteer agency organized to deal with those emergencies, including, but not limited to, action by a special weapons and tactics team or other division of law enforcement designed to deal with high-risk situations; (B) It will place a person in fear of imminent serious bodily injury; or (C) It will prevent or interrupt the occupation of: (i) Any building, place of assembly, form of conveyance, or any other place to which the public has access; or (ii) A private residence or residential building. (b) (1) A violation of subdivision (a)(1) or (a)(2) is a Class D felony. (2) A violation of subdivision (a)(3) is a Class C felony.

Legislative History

Amended by 2024 Tenn. Acts, ch. 794,s 1, eff. 7/1/2024. Acts 1989, ch. 591, § 1; 1990, ch. 1030, § 28; 1998, ch. 690, § 1; 2000, ch. 976, § 1; 2002, ch. 849, § 6.