# Ark. Code Ann. § 5-71-210: Communicating a false alarm > Arkansas · Statutes · In force URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T5_C71_S2_S5-71-210 ## Section - **Citation:** Ark. Code Ann. § 5-71-210 - **Heading:** Communicating a false alarm - **Jurisdiction:** Arkansas - **Kind:** Statutes - **Status:** In force - **Text as of:** August 14, 2026 - **Source:** Compiled text - **Location:** AR Code / Title 5 / Chapter 71 / Subchapter 2 / Section 5-71-210 ## Text (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. ## Nearby sections - [Ark. Code Ann. § 5-71-201 Riot](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T5_C71_S2_S5-71-201.md) - [Ark. Code Ann. § 5-71-202 Aggravated riot](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T5_C71_S2_S5-71-202.md) - [Ark. Code Ann. § 5-71-203 Inciting riot](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T5_C71_S2_S5-71-203.md) - [Ark. Code Ann. § 5-71-204 Arming rioters](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T5_C71_S2_S5-71-204.md) - [Ark. Code Ann. § 5-71-205 Unlawful assembly](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T5_C71_S2_S5-71-205.md) - [Ark. Code Ann. § 5-71-206 Failure to disperse](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T5_C71_S2_S5-71-206.md) - [Ark. Code Ann. § 5-71-207 Disorderly conduct](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T5_C71_S2_S5-71-207.md) - [Ark. Code Ann. § 5-71-208 Harassment](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T5_C71_S2_S5-71-208.md) - [Ark. Code Ann. § 5-71-209 Harassing communications](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T5_C71_S2_S5-71-209.md) - [Ark. Code Ann. § 5-71-210 Communicating a false alarm](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T5_C71_S2_S5-71-210.md) - [Ark. Code Ann. § 5-71-211 Threatening a fire or bombing](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T5_C71_S2_S5-71-211.md) - [Ark. Code Ann. § 5-71-212 Public intoxication - Drinking in public](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T5_C71_S2_S5-71-212.md) - [Ark. Code Ann. § 5-71-213 Loitering](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T5_C71_S2_S5-71-213.md) - [Ark. Code Ann. § 5-71-214 Obstructing a highway or other public passage](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T5_C71_S2_S5-71-214.md) --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_AR_T5_C71_S2_S5-71-210. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.