New York statute
N.Y. Penal Law § 240.55 — Falsely reporting an incident in the second degree
Current through 2026 legislative session (LBDC text via OpenLegislation as of 2026-07-17)
Part of Article 240: Offenses Against Public Order, New York Penal Law.
Full text of N.Y. Penal Law § 240.55
Statutory text current through the 2026 legislative session (LBDC text via OpenLegislation as of 2026-07-17). This publication reproduces the text of the Consolidated Laws of New York as provided by the New York State Senate's Open Legislation service (Legislative Bill Drafting Commission statutory text); it is not the official statutes of the State of New York.
240.55 Falsely reporting an incident in the second degree.
A person is guilty of falsely reporting an incident in the second
degree when, knowing the information reported, conveyed or circulated to
be false or baseless, he or she:
1. Initiates or circulates a false report or warning of an alleged
occurrence or impending occurrence of a fire, explosion, or the release
of a hazardous substance under circumstances in which it is not unlikely
that public alarm or inconvenience will result;
2. Reports, by word or action, to any official or quasi-official
agency or organization having the function of dealing with emergencies
involving danger to life or property, an alleged occurrence or impending
occurrence of a fire, explosion, or the release of a hazardous substance
which did not in fact occur or does not in fact exist; or
3. Knowing the information reported, conveyed or circulated to be
false or baseless and under circumstances in which it is likely public
alarm or inconvenience will result, he or she initiates or circulates a
report or warning of an alleged occurrence or an impending occurrence of
a fire, an explosion, or the release of a hazardous substance upon any
private premises.
Falsely reporting an incident in the second degree is a class E
felony.
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This reference is informational and is not legal advice.