According to Texas laws and rules, the penalties for interfering or preventing an emergency call can be serious. Jail time and a large fine are the two main consequences of interfering with someone making an emergency call. In most of these cases, this crime occurs when a victim of an assault claims they were prevented from calling law enforcement in their time of need. Here’s what you need to know about what happens if you interfere with an emergency call.
What Is Considered Interfering with an Emergency Call?
There are specific requirements for this action to be a punishable offense.
- First, for the offense to be considered interfering with an emergency call, it must be a real phone call and not a fake one.
- Secondly, the attempt to call law enforcement must be physically or verbally prevented.
- Third, the attempted call must be for the purpose of seeking protection or reporting a crime—the situation must be an emergency. An emergency is defined by the Texas Penal Code as “a condition or circumstance in which any individual is or is reasonably believed by the individual making a call or requesting assistance to be in fear of imminent assault, or in which property is or reasonably believed by the individual making the call or requesting assistance to be an imminent danger of damage or destruction.”
- Finally, the attempted call must have been intentionally interrupted. Although every situation is different, the consequences for this crime can be very severe.
Penalties for Interfering with an Emergency Call
If you are charged or accused of interfering with an emergency call, the penalties you may face are severe. In Texas law, interference with an emergency call is a Class A misdemeanor and carries a possible penalty of up to one year in jail and fines of up to $4,000. You may also lose your right to own and use a firearm. If this is a repeated conviction of interfering with an emergency call, the crime would be enhanced to a felony. This crime comes with penalties of 180 days to two years in jail, and up to $10,000 in fines.
A criminal conviction for interfering with an emergency call has consequences that last longer than a potential jail term. This conviction will be on your record, which means prospective employers can do a background check and find out about your offense. If you ever experience a family dispute that deals with the custody of your kids, the courts will see your record as well and may use it as an excuse to take away your rights.
How a Bail Bond Company Can Help
If you have been charged with the crime of interfering with an emergency call, seeking the help of a bail bondsman should be your first move. They can help you post bail and get out of jail, and help you understand the conditions and terms of your offense and release. PCS Bail Bonds provides 24-hour bail bonds for all kinds of charges including theft, drug possession, embezzlement, assault, and more.
We have professional memberships in several renowned associations including the Professional Bondsmen of Texas, Tarrant County Bar Association, and Professional Bondsmen of Tarrant County. We serve clients in Fort Worth, Texas, and other municipalities in Tarrant County. We process our clients’ requests quickly and efficiently. Our bond agents are always on call and we can be down to the jail in under 30 minutes.
Contact us now by phone at 817-335-1655, at our e-mail, visit in-person, or fill out our bail bond request form. You can be confident that you’re working with experts who are dedicated to helping you.