New Hampshire Revised Statutes 644:3 – False Public Alarms
Current as of: 2023 | Check for updates
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[Paragraph I effective until January 1, 2024; see also paragraph I set out below.]
I. Any person who directly or indirectly communicates to any governmental agency that commonly deals with emergencies involving danger to life or property a report known by him to be false regarding a fire, explosion, or other catastrophe or emergency, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor; except if the report concerns the presence of a biological or chemical substance, the offense shall constitute a class B felony.
Attorney's Note
Under the New Hampshire Revised Statutes, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:| Class | Prison | Fine |
|---|---|---|
| Class B felony | up to 7 years | up to $4,000 |
Terms Used In New Hampshire Revised Statutes 644:3
- person: may extend and be applied to bodies corporate and politic as well as to individuals. See New Hampshire Revised Statutes 21:9
[Paragraph I effective January 1, 2024; see also paragraph I set out above.]
I. Any person who directly or indirectly communicates to any governmental agency that commonly deals with emergencies involving danger to life or property a report known by him to be false regarding a fire, explosion, or other catastrophe or emergency, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor; except if the report concerns the presence of an active shooter, the presence of an explosive device, or the presence of a biological or chemical substance, the offense shall constitute a class B felony.
[Paragraph II effective until January 1, 2024; see also paragraph II set out below.]
II. Any person who directly or indirectly communicates to any school, business, office building, hospital, or similar facility open to the public, a report concerning the presence of a biological or chemical substance, knowing such report is false, shall be guilty of a class B felony.
[Paragraph II effective January 1, 2024; see also paragraph II set out above.]
II. Any person who directly or indirectly communicates to any school, business, office building, hospital, or similar facility open to the public, a report concerning the presence of an active shooter, the presence of an explosive device, or the presence of a biological or chemical substance, knowing such report is false, shall be guilty of a class B felony.
III. Any person who knowingly delivers, or causes the delivery of any substance the actor knows could reasonably be perceived as a biological or chemical substance, with the purpose of causing fear or terrorism and with reckless disregard for the risk that emergency services will be dispatched as a result of such delivery, shall be guilty of a class B felony.
IV. This section shall not apply to false alarms subject to N.H. Rev. Stat. § 644:3-a or N.H. Rev. Stat. § 644:3-b, or false reports under N.H. Rev. Stat. § 158:38.