(1) A person commits the crime of misconduct with emergency telephone calls if the person:
(a) Intentionally refuses to relinquish immediately a party line or public pay telephone after being informed that it is needed for an emergency call; or
(b) Requests another to relinquish a party line or public pay telephone to place an emergency call with knowledge that no such emergency exists.
(2) As used in this section:
(a) “Emergency call” means a telephone call to a police or fire department, or for medical aid or ambulance service, necessitated by a situation in which human life or property is in jeopardy and prompt summoning of aid is essential.
(b) “Party line” means a subscriber’s line telephone circuit, consisting of two or more main telephone stations connected therewith, each station with a distinctive ring or telephone number.
(3) Every telephone directory that is distributed to members of the general public in this state shall contain in a prominent place a notice of the offense punishable by this section.
(4) Misconduct with emergency telephone calls is a Class B misdemeanor. [1971 c.743 §288; 2005 c.22 §114]
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