2007 Minnesota Code
Chapters 609 - 624 Crimes, Criminals
Chapter 609 Criminal Code
Section 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.
History: 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