§ 21-589. False reporting of crime - False reporting of missing child.

A.  It shall be unlawful to willfully, knowingly and without probable cause make a false report to any person of any crime or circumstances indicating the possibility of crime having been committed, including the unlawful taking of personal property, which report causes or encourages the exercise of police action or investigation.  Any person convicted of violating the provisions of this subsection shall be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than ninety (90) days or by a fine of not more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), or by both such fine and imprisonment.

B.  It shall be unlawful to willfully, knowingly, and without probable cause communicate false information concerning a missing child to a law enforcement agency that causes or encourages the activation of an AMBER alert warning system.  Any person convicted of violating the provisions of this subsection shall be guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than one (1) year or by a fine of not less than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), or by both such fine and imprisonment.

Added by Laws 1961, p. 227, § 1.  Amended by Laws 2005, c. 109, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2005; Laws 2007, c. 189, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2007.