https://www.americancityandcounty.com/wp-content/themes/acc_child/assets/images/logo/footer-logo.png
  • Home
  • Co-op Solutions
  • Hybrid Work
  • Commentaries
  • News
  • In-Depth
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Podcast
    • Latest videos
    • Product Guides
  • Resources & Events
    • Back
    • Resources
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
    • IWCE 2022
    • How to Contribute
    • Municipal Cost Index – Archive
    • Equipment Watch Page
    • American City & County Awards
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Cookie Policy
    • Privacy Statement
    • Terms of Service
American City and County
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Home
  • Co-op Solutions
  • Hybrid Work
  • Commentaries
  • News
  • In-Depth
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Podcasts
    • Latest videos
    • Product Guides
  • Resources/Events
    • Back
    • Webinars
    • White Papers/eBooks
    • IWCE Expo
    • Calendar of Events
    • How to Contribute
    • American City & County Awards
    • Municipal Cost Index
    • Equipment Watch Page
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Cookie Policy
    • Privacy Stament
    • Terms of Service
  • newsletter
  • Administration
  • Economy & Finance
  • Procurement
  • Public Safety
  • Public Works & Utilities
  • Smart Cities & Technology
  • Magazine
acc.com

New Laws


News

Michigan cracks down on phony 911 calls

Michigan cracks down on phony 911 calls

New legislation targets dangerous Internet hoaxes
  • Written by conley
  • 17th October 2012

People who make phony 911 calls could go to jail for up to 15 years under new legislation in Michigan. Gov. Rick Snyder signed the package of bills prompted by a growing Internet trend, the so-called “swatting,” according to The News-Herald.

The practice involves using the Internet to make false emergency calls to 911 centers. Online services allow the fake callers to make it appear as though the call is coming from a different address. The “swatters” hope to get police Special Weapons and Tactics teams, which are heavily armed, or similar first responders to show up at an innocent person’s address.

Snyder said the Internet hoaxes place both police and the public at risk. “It’s dangerous for first responders; it’s dangerous for the citizens,” he said.

In one “swatting” incident, police in Troy, Mich., last year responded to a 911 call from a teenage boy supposedly hiding in a closet while armed men were firing gunshots inside his house. Police later discovered that the call was a hoax phoned in by a Boston teenager who had been playing an online game with the teenager who actually lived at the house.

The new legislation levies stiff penalties for would-be swatters. If someone falsely reports a felony, the fake caller could face a four-year felony charge. If a fake call leads to someone being injured, the caller could face a five-year felony charge. A debilitating injury could bring a 10-year charge, and if someone is killed as a result of the hoax, the fake caller could face a 15-year charge.

Tags: New Laws Public Safety Resources News

Most Recent


  • Report: Modern construction techniques, building codes protected structures that survived Lahaina fire
    More than a month after wildfire ripped through the historic community of Lahaina, Hawaii, emergency responders continue working to get a more comprehensive picture of what triggered the tragedy. The death toll remains at 115 people. A recent report from the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety’s research division unpacks why the fire was […]
  • asthma
    The top 10 Asthma Capitals for 2023
    September is Asthma Peak Month thanks to ragweed pollen peaking, higher mold counts, the start of cold and flu season, and kids headed back to school. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) has released its 2023 Asthma Capitals report, which analyses data from the 100 most populated cities and reveals the most challenging […]
  • 7 Resources to Level-up Your Federal Grants Administration and Compliance
    With more on your plate than ever, we’ve built this one-page guide to provide resources that will help streamline your federal grants administration journey. As a Grant Administrator, you know federal grants administration can be incredibly complex and frustrating. With the most recent influx of federal financial assistance flowing to state and local governments via […]
  • Searchable mapping tool shows local, county heat-related injury EMS activation data
    Twenty-twenty-three has been a record year for temperatures globally—and they’re expected to continue to rise into the foreseeable future. From cooling infrastructure to policy changes that accomidate workers, cities and counties across the United States are adapting to this new norm. A new tool from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of […]

Leave a comment Cancel reply

-or-

Log in with your American City and County account

Alternatively, post a comment by completing the form below:

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Content

  • Charlotte's proposed public safety zones face "constitutional hurdles"
  • Indigenous Peoples Day or Columbus Day?
  • Alabama city officials seek to ban “saggy pants” and miniskirts
  • Chicago tax: cloudy with a chance of sunshine for tech startups

White papers


7 Resources to Level-up Your Federal Grants Administration and Compliance

5th September 2023

Elevator Phone Line Replacement Strategy | A Guide to Reliable, Code-Compliant Solutions

29th August 2023

2023 State of Public Sourcing Report: The Bright Future of Public Procurement

23rd August 2023
view all

Webinars


Grant Preparedness: Unlocking Funding Opportunities for Your Success

10th August 2023

2023 State of Public Sourcing: Taking Local Governments into a Bright Future

1st August 2023

Stop Playing with Fire: How to Manage Infrastructure Asset Risk So You Know You’re Covered

20th June 2023
view all

PODCAST


Young Leaders Episode 4 – Cyril Jefferson – City Councilman, High Point, North Carolina

13th October 2020

Young Leaders Episode 3 – Shannon Hardin – City Council President, Columbus, Ohio

27th July 2020

Young Leaders Episode 2 – Christian Williams – Development Services Planner, Goodyear, Ariz.

1st July 2020
view all

GALLERIES


Gallery: Hottest temperatures recorded in American cities during July

12th September 2023

The top 10 Asthma Capitals for 2023

7th September 2023

U.S. cities with the cleanest air from latest “State of the Air” report

5th September 2023
view all

Twitter


Newsletters

Sign up for American City & County’s newsletters to receive regular news and information updates about local governments.

Resale Insights Dashboard

The Resale Insights Dashboard provides model-level data for the entire used equipment market to help you save time and money.

Municipal Cost Index

Updated monthly since 1978, our exclusive Municipal Cost Index shows the effects of inflation on the cost of providing municipal services

Media Kit and Advertising

Want to reach our digital audience? Learn more here.

DISCOVER MORE FROM INFORMA TECH

  • IWCE’s Urgent Communications
  • IWCE Expo

WORKING WITH US

  • About Us
  • Contact Us

FOLLOW American City and County ON SOCIAL

  • Privacy
  • CCPA: “Do Not Sell My Data”
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms
Copyright © 2023 Informa PLC. Informa PLC is registered in England and Wales with company number 8860726 whose registered and Head office is 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.