519.040 Falsely reporting an incident.

339 words·~2 min read·/ky/chapter-519/519-040

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

(1)A person is guilty of falsely reporting an incident when the person:

(a)Knowingly causes a false alarm of fire or other emergency to be transmitted to

or within any organization, official or volunteer, that deals with emergencies

involving danger to life or property, and the false report results in an

emergency response; or

(b)Reports to law enforcement authorities an offense or incident within their

official concern knowing that it did not occur; or

(c)Furnishes law enforcement authorities with information allegedly relating to

an offense or incident within their official concern when the person knows he

or she has no information relating to such offense or incident; or

(d)Knowingly gives false information to any law enforcement officer with intent

to implicate another; or

(e)Initiates or circulates a report or warning of an alleged occurrence or

impending occurrence of a fire or other emergency under circumstances likely

to cause public inconvenience or alarm when the person knows the

information reported, conveyed, or circulated is false or baseless, and the false

report results in an emergency response.

(a)Falsely reporting an incident under subsection (1)(b), (c), or

(d)of this section

is a Class A misdemeanor.

(b)Falsely reporting an incident under subsection (1)(a) or

(e)of this section is a

Class D felony.

(3)Any violation under this section may be prosecuted in any county where:

(a)The defendant resides;

(b)The false report was communicated; or

(c)There was an emergency response to the false report.

(a)The court, in imposing a sentence on a defendant who has been convicted of

any offense under this section, shall order restitution to:

1. Any agency or organization for the reasonable costs of the emergency

response incurred by that agency or organization resulting from the false

report; and

2. Any person who suffered damages caused by the agency or organization

that provided an emergency response.

(b)An order of restitution under this subsection shall, for the purpose of

enforcement, be treated as a civil judgment.