Utah criminal charge
Emergency reporting abuse in Utah
Current through 2026 Utah legislative session
Emergency reporting abuse is a criminal offense under Utah law, defined by Utah Code Ann. § 76-9-105.5. Its classification is not fixed: Utah 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 Utah Code Ann. § 76-9-105.5.
What is the penalty for emergency reporting abuse in Utah?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | up to 6 months (False emergency report (base offense) — A violation of Subsection (2)(a) — reporting a false emergency — is a class B misdemeanor, except as otherwise provided.) | discretionary | Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-204 |
| Fine | up to $1,000 (False emergency report (base offense) — A violation of Subsection (2)(a) — reporting a false emergency — is a class B misdemeanor, except as otherwise provided.; greater amounts may be specifically authorized by statute (Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-301)) | discretionary | Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-204 |
| Jail / prison | 1 years to 15 years (False emergency report involving weapon of mass destruction — A violation of Subsection (2)(a) is a second degree felony if the false report concerns a weapon of mass destruction.; indeterminate prison term, unless the statute provides otherwise; actual release is determined by the Board of Pardons and Parole) | discretionary | Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-203 |
| Fine | up to $10,000 (False emergency report involving weapon of mass destruction — A violation of Subsection (2)(a) is a second degree felony if the false report concerns a weapon of mass destruction.; greater amounts may be specifically authorized by statute (Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-301)) | discretionary | Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-203 |
| Jail / prison | 1 years to 15 years (False report of imminent threat at specified location — A violation of Subsection (2)(b), making a false report of an imminent threat of serious injury or death at a specified location, is a second degree felony.; indeterminate prison term, unless the statute provides otherwise; actual release is determined by the Board of Pardons and Parole) | discretionary | Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-203 |
| Fine | up to $10,000 (False report of imminent threat at specified location — A violation of Subsection (2)(b), making a false report of an imminent threat of serious injury or death at a specified location, is a second degree felony.; greater amounts may be specifically authorized by statute (Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-301)) | discretionary | Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-203 |
| Jail / prison | up to 6 months (False report alleging sex-designated changing room violation after prior false report — A violation of Subsection (2)(c), making a repeat false report alleging a changing room violation, is a class B misdemeanor.) | discretionary | Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-204 |
| Fine | up to $1,000 (False report alleging sex-designated changing room violation after prior false report — A violation of Subsection (2)(c), making a repeat false report alleging a changing room violation, is a class B misdemeanor.; greater amounts may be specifically authorized by statute (Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-301)) | discretionary | Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-204 |
| Jail / prison | up to 6 months (Improper 911 contact after prior warning — A violation of Subsection (2)(d), contacting 911 for a non-emergency after having been previously warned, is a class B misdemeanor, except as otherwise provided.) | discretionary | Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-204 |
| Fine | up to $1,000 (Improper 911 contact after prior warning — A violation of Subsection (2)(d), contacting 911 for a non-emergency after having been previously warned, is a class B misdemeanor, except as otherwise provided.; greater amounts may be specifically authorized by statute (Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-301)) | discretionary | Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-204 |
| Jail / prison | Repeat or reckless false report/improper 911 contact causing injury or loss — A violation of Subsection (2)(a) or (2)(d) is a class A misdemeanor if it is the actor's third or subsequent such conviction, or if the actor was reckless as to jeopardizing safety and the violation caused an emergency response or delay resulting in serious bodily injury or pecuniary loss of $5,000 or more.; up to 364 days — except up to one year for class A misdemeanors under Title 76, Chapter 5 (Offenses Against the Individual), other than Sections 76-5-102.9, 76-5-107.5, 76-5-113, and 76-5-303, which remain at 364 days (Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-204(1)) | discretionary | Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-204 |
| Fine | up to $2,500 (Repeat or reckless false report/improper 911 contact causing injury or loss — A violation of Subsection (2)(a) or (2)(d) is a class A misdemeanor if it is the actor's third or subsequent such conviction, or if the actor was reckless as to jeopardizing safety and the violation caused an emergency response or delay resulting in serious bodily injury or pecuniary loss of $5,000 or more.; greater amounts may be specifically authorized by statute (Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-301)) | discretionary | Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-204 |
| Jail / prison | up to 5 years (Reckless false report/improper 911 contact causing death — A violation of Subsection (2)(a) or (2)(d) is a third degree felony if the actor was reckless as to jeopardizing safety and the violation caused an emergency response or delay resulting in the death of any individual.; indeterminate prison term, unless the statute provides otherwise; actual release is determined by the Board of Pardons and Parole) | discretionary | Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-203 |
| Fine | up to $5,000 (Reckless false report/improper 911 contact causing death — A violation of Subsection (2)(a) or (2)(d) is a third degree felony if the actor was reckless as to jeopardizing safety and the violation caused an emergency response or delay resulting in the death of any individual.; greater amounts may be specifically authorized by statute (Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-301)) | discretionary | Utah Code Ann. § 76-3-203 |
Applies to current (2026 General Session).
How is emergency reporting abuse classified in Utah?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| False emergency report (base offense) | Class B Misdemeanor | A violation of Subsection (2)(a) — reporting a false emergency — is a class B misdemeanor, except as otherwise provided. | Utah Code Ann. § 76-9-105.5(3)(a) |
| False emergency report involving weapon of mass destruction | Second Degree Felony | A violation of Subsection (2)(a) is a second degree felony if the false report concerns a weapon of mass destruction. | Utah Code Ann. § 76-9-105.5(3)(b) |
| False report of imminent threat at specified location | Second Degree Felony | A violation of Subsection (2)(b), making a false report of an imminent threat of serious injury or death at a specified location, is a second degree felony. | Utah Code Ann. § 76-9-105.5(3)(c) |
| False report alleging sex-designated changing room violation after prior false report | Class B Misdemeanor | A violation of Subsection (2)(c), making a repeat false report alleging a changing room violation, is a class B misdemeanor. | Utah Code Ann. § 76-9-105.5(3)(d) |
| Improper 911 contact after prior warning | Class B Misdemeanor | A violation of Subsection (2)(d), contacting 911 for a non-emergency after having been previously warned, is a class B misdemeanor, except as otherwise provided. | Utah Code Ann. § 76-9-105.5(3)(e) |
| Repeat or reckless false report/improper 911 contact causing injury or loss | Class A Misdemeanor | A violation of Subsection (2)(a) or (2)(d) is a class A misdemeanor if it is the actor's third or subsequent such conviction, or if the actor was reckless as to jeopardizing safety and the violation caused an emergency response or delay resulting in serious bodily injury or pecuniary loss of $5,000 or more. | Utah Code Ann. § 76-9-105.5(3)(f) |
| Reckless false report/improper 911 contact causing death | Third Degree Felony | A violation of Subsection (2)(a) or (2)(d) is a third degree felony if the actor was reckless as to jeopardizing safety and the violation caused an emergency response or delay resulting in the death of any individual. | Utah Code Ann. § 76-9-105.5(3)(g) |
Common questions about emergency reporting abuse in Utah
Is emergency reporting abuse a felony or a misdemeanor in Utah?
It depends on the circumstances: emergency reporting abuse ranges from a Class B Misdemeanor to a Second Degree Felony in Utah under Utah Code Ann. § 76-9-105.5.
False emergency report (base offense): Class B Misdemeanor (Utah Code Ann. § 76-9-105.5(3)(a)) · False emergency report involving weapon of mass destruction: Second Degree Felony (Utah Code Ann. § 76-9-105.5(3)(b)) · False report of imminent threat at specified location: Second Degree Felony (Utah Code Ann. § 76-9-105.5(3)(c)) · False report alleging sex-designated changing room violation after prior false report: Class B Misdemeanor (Utah Code Ann. § 76-9-105.5(3)(d)) · Improper 911 contact after prior warning: Class B Misdemeanor (Utah Code Ann. § 76-9-105.5(3)(e)) · Repeat or reckless false report/improper 911 contact causing injury or loss: Class A Misdemeanor (Utah Code Ann. § 76-9-105.5(3)(f)) · Reckless false report/improper 911 contact causing death: Third Degree Felony (Utah Code Ann. § 76-9-105.5(3)(g))
What are the penalties for emergency reporting abuse in Utah?
Which Utah statute covers emergency reporting abuse?
Emergency reporting abuse is governed by Utah Code Ann. § 76-9-105.5 (Emergency reporting abuse).
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.