Utah statute
Utah Code Ann. § 76-12-207 — Misrepresentation of a call or text communication identification.
Current through 2026 General Session
Part of Part 2: Electronic Communication Abuse, Utah Code.
Criminal charges under this statute
Full text of Utah Code Ann. § 76-12-207
Statutory text current through the 2026 General Session. This publication reproduces the official statutory text; it is not the official statutes of the State of Utah.
(1)(a) As used in this section: (1)(a)(i) "Caller or text message identification information" means information provided by a caller identification service or text message service regarding the telephone number or other information regarding the origination of a call or text message made using a telecommunications service or VoIP voice service. (1)(a)(ii) "Caller or text message identification service" means a service or device designed to provide the user of the service or device with the telephone number of, or other information regarding, the origination of a call or text message made using a telecommunications service or VoIP voice service, including automatic number identification services. (1)(a)(iii) "Text message": (1)(a)(iii)(A) means a real-time or near real-time message consisting of text, images, sounds, or other information transmitted from or received by a device identified by a telephone number; and (1)(a)(iii)(B) does not include a real-time, two-way voice or video communication. (1)(a)(iv) "VoIP" means a technology that allows telephone calls to be made over computer networks, including the Internet. (1)(b) Terms defined in Sections 76-1-101.5, 76-12-101, and 76-12-201 apply to this section. (2) An actor commits misrepresentation of a call or text communication identification if the actor, in connection with a telecommunications service or VoIP voice service, knowingly causes a caller identification service or text message service to transmit false, misleading, or inaccurate caller or text message identification information: (2)(a) with the intent to harm the recipient of the call or text message; or (2)(b) to a public safety answering point when reporting an emergency. (3)(a) Except as provided in Subsection (3)(b), a violation of Subsection (2) is a class C misdemeanor. (3)(b) A violation of Subsection (2) is a class B misdemeanor on a second or subsequent violation. (3)(c) Each separate call or text message is a violation of this section. (4) This section does not prevent or restrict a person from blocking the capability of a caller or text message identification service to transmit caller or text message identification information. (5) The following are exempt from this section: (5)(a) the lawful investigative, protective, or intelligence activity of a law enforcement agency; and (5)(b) a court order that specifically authorizes the use of caller or text message identification manipulation. (6) A violation of this section may be enforced in a civil action initiated by the recipient of a call, message, or text message made in violation of this section, a criminal action initiated by a prosecuting attorney, or both. (7) This section does not apply to an Internet service provider or hosting company, a provider of public telecommunications services, or a text message service by reason of the fact that the Internet service provider, hosting company, text message service, or provider of public telecommunications services: (7)(a) transmits, routes, or provides connections for material without selecting the material; (7)(b) stores or delivers the material at the direction of a user; or (7)(c) provides a caller or text message identification service.
Official sources
Legal terms used in this section
Questions this section answers
Is misrepresentation of a call or text communication identification a felony or a misdemeanor in Utah?
It depends on the circumstances: misrepresentation of a call or text communication identification ranges from a Class C Misdemeanor to a Class B Misdemeanor in Utah under Utah Code Ann. § 76-12-207.
Misrepresentation of call/text identification — first violation: Class C Misdemeanor (Utah Code Ann. § 76-12-207(3)(a)) · Misrepresentation of call/text identification — second or subsequent violation: Class B Misdemeanor (Utah Code Ann. § 76-12-207(3)(b))
Which Utah statute covers misrepresentation of a call or text communication identification?
Misrepresentation of a call or text communication identification is governed by Utah Code Ann. § 76-12-207 (Misrepresentation of a call or text communication identification).
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.