Interfering With Emergency Phone Call or 911 Call
By inhibiting or preventing someone from making such an emergency call, you could be charged or arrested for interfering with an emergency phone call. In Texas, interfering with an emergency phone call is a very serious offense and is considered a Class A Misdemeanor, which is punishable by up to a year in jail and/or up to a $4,000 fine. You may also face the loss of your right to own or possess a firearm.
Interfering with 911 call charges often times result when an alleged victim of domestic violence or assault causing bodily injury to a family member claims that they were prevented from calling the police. If you are facing the criminal charge of interfering with an emergency phone call, you should seek legal representation immediately.
Austin Interference With Emergency Call Lawyer
My goal as an Austin Criminal Defense Lawyer is to fight and defend against charges and to find weaknesses in the prosecution’s case. Often times in a case such as Interfering with an Emergency Phone Call, there are serious questions as to the credibility of the alleged victim or whether there is sufficient evidence to prove every element of the criminal offense beyond a reasonable doubt.
Call The Law Office of Kevin Bennett today at (512) 476-4626 to schedule a free consultation. The Law Office of Kevin Bennett represents clients in Travis County, including Austin, Lakeway and Lago Vista.
Penalties for Interfering with Emergency Phone Call
In Texas, interfering with an emergency phone call is a very serious offense and is considered a Class A Misdemeanor, which is punishable by up to a year in jail and/or up to a $4,000 fine. You may also face the loss of your right to own or possess a firearm. Additionally, the charge can be enhanced to a felony if the accused has a previous conviction for interfering with an emergency phone call or 911 call.
Interfering with Emergency Phone Call Law in Texas
Texas Penal Code Section 42.062.
INTERFERENCE WITH EMERGENCY TELEPHONE CALL
(a) An individual commits an offense if the individual knowingly prevents or interferes with another individual’s ability to place an emergency telephone call or to request assistance in an emergency from a law enforcement agency, medical facility, or other agency or entity the primary purpose of which is to provide for the safety of individuals.
(b) An individual commits an offense if the individual recklessly renders unusable a telephone that would otherwise be used by another individual to place an emergency telephone call or to request assistance in an emergency from a law enforcement agency, medical facility, or other agency or entity the primary purpose of which is to provide for the safety of individuals.
(c) An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor, except that the offense is a state jail felony if the actor has previously been convicted under this section.
(d) In this section, “emergency” means a condition or circumstance in which any individual is or is reasonably believed by the individual making a telephone call to be in fear of imminent assault or in which property is or is reasonably believed by the individual making the telephone call to be in imminent danger of damage or destruction.
