2005 Minnesota Statutes - 609.78 — Emergency telephone calls and communications.

     609.78 Emergency telephone calls and communications. 


    Subdivision 1.    Misdemeanor offenses.  Whoever does 
 the following is guilty of a misdemeanor: 


    (1) refuses to relinquish immediately a coin-operated 
 telephone or a telephone line consisting of two or more stations 
 when informed that the line is needed to make an emergency call; 


    (2) secures a relinquishment of a coin-operated telephone 
 or a telephone line consisting of two or more stations by 
 falsely stating that the line is needed for an emergency; 


    (3) publishes telephone directories to be used for 
 telephones or telephone lines and the directories do not contain 
 a copy of this section; 


    (4) makes a call for emergency medical or ambulance 
 service, knowing that no medical emergency exists; or 


    (5) interrupts, disrupts, impedes, or otherwise interferes 
 with the transmission of a citizen's band radio channel 
 communication the purpose of which is to inform or inquire about 
 a medical emergency or an emergency in which property is or is 
 reasonably believed to be in imminent danger of damage or 
 destruction. 


    Subd. 2.    Interference with an emergency call; gross 
 misdemeanor offense.  A person who intentionally interrupts, 
 disrupts, impedes, or interferes with an emergency call or who 
 intentionally prevents or hinders another from placing an 
 emergency call, and whose conduct does not result in a violation 
 of section 609.498, is guilty of a gross misdemeanor and may be 
 sentenced to imprisonment for not more than one year or to 
 payment of a fine of not more than $3,000, or both. 


    Subd. 3.    Definition.  For purposes of this section, 
 "emergency call" means: 


    (1) a 911 call; 


    (2) any call for emergency medical or ambulance service; or 


    (3) any call for assistance from a police or fire 
 department or for other assistance needed in an emergency to 
 avoid serious harm to person or property, 


 and an emergency exists. 


    HIST: 1963 c 753 art 1 s 609.78; 1971 c 23 s 79; 1983 c 140 s 
 1; 1984 c 630 s 1; 1997 c 239 art 3 s 19; 1999 c 24 s 1