HF 1723

as introduced - 84th Legislature (2005 - 2006) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to public safety; establishing the crime of
providing false information to law enforcement;
amending Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 609.505.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 609.505, is
amended to read:

609.505 FALSELY REPORTING CRIME; PROVIDING FALSE
INFORMATION.

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin False reporting. new text end

Whoever informs a law
enforcement officer that a crime has been committed, knowing
that it is false and intending that the officer shall act in
reliance upon it, is guilty of a misdemeanor. A person who is
convicted a second or subsequent time under this section is
guilty of a gross misdemeanor.

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin False information. new text end

new text begin (a) Except as provided in
subdivision 1 and unless a more severe penalty is imposed
elsewhere in law, whoever provides false information about
another person to a law enforcement officer knowing that it is
false, intending that the officer shall act in reliance upon it,
and intending to obstruct justice, is guilty of a gross
misdemeanor. A person who is convicted a second or subsequent
time under this section is guilty of a felony and may be
sentenced to imprisonment for not more than two years or to
payment of a fine of not more than $4,000, or both.
new text end

new text begin (b) To prove that a person intended to obstruct justice
under paragraph (a), it is not necessary to show that the person
engaged in any type of physical act or used threatening language.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective August 1, 2005,
and applies to crimes committed on or after that date.
new text end