New York statute
N.Y. Penal Law § 270.15 — Unlawfully refusing to yield a party line
Current through 2026 legislative session (LBDC text via OpenLegislation as of 2026-07-17)
Part of Article 270: Other Offenses Relating to Public Safety, New York Penal Law.
Criminal charges under this statute
Full text of N.Y. Penal Law § 270.15
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.
270.15 Unlawfully refusing to yield a party line.
1. As used in this section:
(a) "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.
(b) "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.
2. A person is guilty of unlawfully refusing to yield a party line
when, being informed that a party line is needed for an emergency call,
he refuses immediately to relinquish such line.
Unlawfully refusing to yield a party line is a class B misdemeanor.
Official sources
Legal terms used in this section
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.