Communicating a false alarm

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AR Code › Title 5 › Chapter 71 › Subchapter 2 › Section 5-71-210

This text was captured on Aug 14, 2026. It is a snapshot, not a live feed, so check the official code before relying on it.

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(a) A person commits the offense of communicating a false alarm if he or she purposely initiates or circulates a report of a present, past, or impending bombing, fire, offense, catastrophe, or other emergency while knowing that the report is false or baseless and knowing that it is likely to: (1) Cause action of any sort by an official or volunteer agency organized to deal with emergencies; (2) Place any person in fear of physical injury to himself or herself or another person or of damage to his or her property or that of another person; or (3) Cause total or partial evacuation of any occupiable structure, vehicle, or vital public facility. (b) (1) (A) Communicating a false alarm is a Class C felony if physical injury to a person results. (B) Communicating a false alarm is a Class D felony if: (i) Damage to property results; or (ii) The false alarm communicates a present or impending bombing and is made to or about a public or private educational institution. (2) (A) If there is no resulting physical injury or damage to property, communicating a false alarm is a Class A misdemeanor. (B) A second or subsequent offense that would otherwise be a Class A misdemeanor is a Class D felony. (c) In addition to any other restitution ordered under § 5-4-205 , the court may order that a person who violates this section make restitution to the State of Arkansas or any of its political subdivisions for any cleanup costs associated with the commission of the offense. Acts 1975, No. 280, § 2911; A.S.A. 1947, § 41-2911; Acts 2001, No. 567, § 1; 2003, No. 1342, § 4.

(a) A person commits the offense of communicating a false alarm if he or she purposely initiates or circulates a report of a present, past, or impending bombing, fire, offense, catastrophe, or other emergency while knowing that the report is false or baseless and knowing that it is likely to: (1) Cause action of any sort by an official or volunteer agency organized to deal with emergencies; (2) Place any person in fear of physical injury to himself or herself or another person or of damage to his or her property or that of another person; or (3) Cause total or partial evacuation of any occupiable structure, vehicle, or vital public facility.

(1) Cause action of any sort by an official or volunteer agency organized to deal with emergencies;

(2) Place any person in fear of physical injury to himself or herself or another person or of damage to his or her property or that of another person; or

(3) Cause total or partial evacuation of any occupiable structure, vehicle, or vital public facility.

(b) (1) (A) Communicating a false alarm is a Class C felony if physical injury to a person results. (B) Communicating a false alarm is a Class D felony if: (i) Damage to property results; or (ii) The false alarm communicates a present or impending bombing and is made to or about a public or private educational institution. (2) (A) If there is no resulting physical injury or damage to property, communicating a false alarm is a Class A misdemeanor. (B) A second or subsequent offense that would otherwise be a Class A misdemeanor is a Class D felony.

(1) (A) Communicating a false alarm is a Class C felony if physical injury to a person results. (B) Communicating a false alarm is a Class D felony if: (i) Damage to property results; or (ii) The false alarm communicates a present or impending bombing and is made to or about a public or private educational institution.

(A) Communicating a false alarm is a Class C felony if physical injury to a person results.

(B) Communicating a false alarm is a Class D felony if: (i) Damage to property results; or (ii) The false alarm communicates a present or impending bombing and is made to or about a public or private educational institution.

ding bombing and is made to or about a public or private educational institution.

(A) Communicating a false alarm is a Class C felony if physical injury to a person results.

(B) Communicating a false alarm is a Class D felony if: (i) Damage to property results; or (ii) The false alarm communicates a present or impending bombing and is made to or about a public or private educational institution.

(i) Damage to property results; or

(ii) The false alarm communicates a present or impending bombing and is made to or about a public or private educational institution.

(2) (A) If there is no resulting physical injury or damage to property, communicating a false alarm is a Class A misdemeanor. (B) A second or subsequent offense that would otherwise be a Class A misdemeanor is a Class D felony.

(A) If there is no resulting physical injury or damage to property, communicating a false alarm is a Class A misdemeanor.

(B) A second or subsequent offense that would otherwise be a Class A misdemeanor is a Class D felony.

(c) In addition to any other restitution ordered under § 5-4-205 , the court may order that a person who violates this section make restitution to the State of Arkansas or any of its political subdivisions for any cleanup costs associated with the commission of the offense.

Acts 1975, No. 280, § 2911; A.S.A. 1947, § 41-2911; Acts 2001, No. 567, § 1; 2003, No. 1342, § 4.

This is a copy of a public record, reproduced as it was published. It is not legal advice, and it may not be the version a court would rely on. Check the official source before you cite it.

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