2016 Colorado Revised Statutes
Title 18 - Criminal Code
Article 9 - Offenses Against Public Peace, Order, and Decency
Part 3 - Offenses Involving Communications
§ 18-9-307. Refusal to yield party line

(1) The following definitions are applicable to this section:

(a) "Party line" means a subscribers' line telephone circuit, consisting of two or more main telephone stations connected therewith, each station with a distinctive ring or telephone number.

(b) "Emergency" means a situation in which property or human safety is in jeopardy and the prompt summoning of aid is essential.

(2) Any person who willfully refuses to immediately yield or surrender the use of a party line when informed that the line is needed for an emergency call to a fire department, or police department, or sheriff's office or for medical aid or ambulance service commits a class 1 petty offense. This section shall not apply to persons using a party line for such an emergency call.

(3) Any person who requests the use of a party line on the pretext that an emergency exists, knowing that no emergency in fact exists, commits a class 1 petty offense, punishable by a fine of one hundred dollars.