Virginia criminal charge
False emergency communication to emergency personnel in Virginia
False emergency communication to emergency personnel is a criminal offense under Virginia law, defined by Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-461.1. Its classification is not fixed: Virginia assigns a different penalty class depending on the circumstances of the offense. The class that applies — and the sentencing range that follows from it — depends on which statutory variant fits the facts.
Defined by Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-461.1.
What is the penalty for false emergency communication to emergency personnel in Virginia?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | up to 12 months (False emergency communication resulting in emergency response — A person knowingly reports, or causes another to report in reliance on intentionally false information, a false emergency communication that results in an emergency response.) | discretionary | Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-11 |
| Fine | up to $2,500 (False emergency communication resulting in emergency response — A person knowingly reports, or causes another to report in reliance on intentionally false information, a false emergency communication that results in an emergency response.; either or both with confinement (§ 18.2-11(a))) | discretionary | Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-11 |
| Jail / prison | 1 years to 5 years (False emergency communication resulting in serious bodily injury — A person knowingly reports, or causes another to report in reliance on intentionally false information, a false emergency communication resulting in an emergency response, and any person suffers serious bodily injury as a direct and proximate result.; or, at the discretion of the jury or the court trying the case without a jury, confinement in jail for not more than 12 months and a fine of not more than $2,500, either or both (§ 18.2-10(f))) | discretionary | Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-10 |
| Fine | up to $2,500 (False emergency communication resulting in serious bodily injury — A person knowingly reports, or causes another to report in reliance on intentionally false information, a false emergency communication resulting in an emergency response, and any person suffers serious bodily injury as a direct and proximate result.; with the jail-confinement alternative under § 18.2-10(f)) | discretionary | Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-10 |
| Jail / prison | 1 years to 10 years (False emergency communication resulting in death — A person reports, or causes another to report in reliance on intentionally false information, a false emergency communication resulting in an emergency response, and any person is killed as a direct and proximate result.; or, at the discretion of the jury or the court trying the case without a jury, confinement in jail for not more than 12 months and a fine of not more than $2,500, either or both (§ 18.2-10(e))) | discretionary | Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-10 |
| Fine | up to $2,500 (False emergency communication resulting in death — A person reports, or causes another to report in reliance on intentionally false information, a false emergency communication resulting in an emergency response, and any person is killed as a direct and proximate result.; with the jail-confinement alternative under § 18.2-10(e)) | discretionary | Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-10 |
Applies to current.
How is false emergency communication to emergency personnel classified in Virginia?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| False emergency communication resulting in emergency response | Class 1 Misdemeanor | A person knowingly reports, or causes another to report in reliance on intentionally false information, a false emergency communication that results in an emergency response. | Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-461.1B |
| False emergency communication resulting in serious bodily injury | Class 6 Felony | A person knowingly reports, or causes another to report in reliance on intentionally false information, a false emergency communication resulting in an emergency response, and any person suffers serious bodily injury as a direct and proximate result. | Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-461.1C |
| False emergency communication resulting in death | Class 5 Felony | A person reports, or causes another to report in reliance on intentionally false information, a false emergency communication resulting in an emergency response, and any person is killed as a direct and proximate result. | Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-461.1D |
Common questions about false emergency communication to emergency personnel in Virginia
Is false emergency communication to emergency personnel a felony or a misdemeanor in Virginia?
It depends on the circumstances: false emergency communication to emergency personnel ranges from a class 1 misdemeanor to a class 5 felony in Virginia under Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-461.1.
False emergency communication resulting in emergency response: class 1 misdemeanor (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-461.1B) · False emergency communication resulting in serious bodily injury: class 6 felony (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-461.1C) · False emergency communication resulting in death: class 5 felony (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-461.1D)
What are the penalties for false emergency communication to emergency personnel in Virginia?
Penalties for false emergency communication to emergency personnel in Virginia depend on how it is classified — from a class 1 misdemeanor up to a class 5 felony — with the ranges set by Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-11 and Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-10; the full table of ranges by variant is published on this page.
Which Virginia statute covers false emergency communication to emergency personnel?
False emergency communication to emergency personnel is governed by Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-461.1 (False emergency communication to emergency personnel; penalties).
Legal terms used in this law
This reference is informational and is not legal advice. Penalty ranges are the statutory classification ranges; sentencing in a specific case depends on its facts and history.