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Virginia statute

Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-461.1 — False emergency communication to emergency personnel; penalties

Current through 2026 Regular Session

Part of Article 6: Interference with Administration of Justice, Code of Virginia.

Criminal charges under this statute

Full text of Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-461.1

Statutory text current through the 2026 Regular Session. This publication reproduces the text of the Code of Virginia from the official Virginia Law Portal API published by the Virginia General Assembly's Division of Legislative Automated Systems; it is not the official Code of Virginia.

Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-461.1Primary source, current through the 2026 Regular Session
A. As used in this section: "Emergency communication" means a communication of any type to report a fire or to summon a firefighter, as defined in § 65.2-107 , law-enforcement officer, as defined in § 9.1-101 , or emergency medical services personnel, as defined in § 32.1-111.1 , in a situation where human life, health, or property is reported to be in jeopardy and the prompt summoning of aid is essential. "Emergency personnel" means the same as that term is defined in § 18.2-426 . "Emergency response" means a response by a firefighter, law-enforcement officer, or emergency medical services personnel to a situation where human life, health, or property is in jeopardy and the prompt provision of aid is essential to protect human life, health, or property. B. Any person who knowingly reports, or causes another to report in reliance on intentionally false information provided by such person, a false emergency communication to any emergency personnel that results in an emergency response is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. C. Any person who knowingly reports, or causes another to report in reliance on intentionally false information provided by such person, a false emergency communication to any emergency personnel that results in an emergency response and any person suffers serious bodily injury, as defined in § 18.2-51.4 , as a direct and proximate result of the false emergency communication to emergency personnel is guilty of a Class 6 felony. D. Any person who reports, or causes another to report in reliance on intentionally false information provided by such person, a false emergency communication to any emergency personnel that results in an emergency response and any person is killed as a direct and proximate result of the false emergency communication to personnel is guilty of a Class 5 felony. E. Any person violating this section may be prosecuted in the county or city where the emergency communication was made, in the county or city where the emergency communication was received, or in the county or city where the emergency response occurred. F. A violation of this section shall constitute a separate and distinct offense. The provisions of this section shall not preclude prosecution under any other statute.

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Legal terms used in this section

Questions this section answers

Is false emergency communication to emergency personnel a felony or a misdemeanor in Virginia?

It depends on the circumstances: false emergency communication to emergency personnel ranges from a class 1 misdemeanor to a class 5 felony in Virginia under Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-461.1.

False emergency communication resulting in emergency response: class 1 misdemeanor (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-461.1B) · False emergency communication resulting in serious bodily injury: class 6 felony (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-461.1C) · False emergency communication resulting in death: class 5 felony (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-461.1D)

Which Virginia statute covers false emergency communication to emergency personnel?

False emergency communication to emergency personnel is governed by Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-461.1 (False emergency communication to emergency personnel; penalties).

This reference is informational and is not legal advice.