1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to crime prevention; prohibiting the 
  1.3             interruption of a 911 call; providing a criminal 
  1.4             penalty; amending Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 
  1.5             609.78. 
  1.6   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.7      Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 609.78, is 
  1.8   amended to read: 
  1.9      609.78 [EMERGENCY TELEPHONE CALLS AND COMMUNICATIONS.] 
  1.10     Subdivision 1.  [MISDEMEANOR OFFENSES.] Whoever does the 
  1.11  following is guilty of a misdemeanor: 
  1.12     (1) Refuses to relinquish immediately a coin-operated 
  1.13  telephone or a telephone line consisting of two or more stations 
  1.14  when informed that the line is needed to make an emergency call 
  1.15  for medical or ambulance service or for assistance from a police 
  1.16  or fire department or for other service needed in an emergency 
  1.17  to avoid serious harm to person or property, and an emergency 
  1.18  exists; 
  1.19     (2) Secures a relinquishment of a coin-operated telephone 
  1.20  or a telephone line consisting of two or more stations by 
  1.21  falsely stating that the line is needed for an emergency; 
  1.22     (3) Publishes telephone directories to be used for 
  1.23  telephones or telephone lines and the directories do not contain 
  1.24  a copy of this section; 
  1.25     (4) Makes an emergency call for medical or ambulance 
  2.1   service, knowing that no medical emergency exists; or 
  2.2      (5) Interrupts, disrupts, impedes, or otherwise interferes 
  2.3   with the transmission of a citizen's band radio channel 
  2.4   communication the purpose of which is to inform or inquire about 
  2.5   a medical emergency or an emergency in which property is or is 
  2.6   reasonably believed to be in imminent danger of damage or 
  2.7   destruction. 
  2.8      Subd. 2.  [INTERFERENCE WITH A 911 CALL; GROSS MISDEMEANOR 
  2.9   OFFENSE.] A person who intentionally interrupts, disrupts, 
  2.10  impedes, or otherwise interferes with a 911 call or who prevents 
  2.11  or hinders another from placing a 911 call, and whose conduct 
  2.12  does not result in a violation of section 609.498, is guilty of 
  2.13  a gross misdemeanor and may be sentenced to imprisonment for not 
  2.14  more than one year or to payment of a fine of not more than 
  2.15  $3,000, or both. 
  2.16     Sec. 2.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
  2.17     Section 1 is effective August 1, 1997, and applies to 
  2.18  crimes committed on or after that date.