Section 35-44.1-2-3 - [Effective 7/1/2024] False reporting; false informing(a) As used in this section, "consumer product" has the meaning set forth in IC 35-45-8-1.(b) As used in this section, "misconduct" means a violation of a departmental rule or procedure of a law enforcement agency.(c) A person who reports that:(1) the person or another person has placed or intends to place an explosive, a destructive device, or other destructive substance in a building or transportation facility;(2) there has been or there will be tampering with a consumer product introduced into commerce; or(3) there has been or will be placed or introduced a weapon of mass destruction in a building or a place of assembly; knowing the report to be false, commits false reporting, a Level 6 felony. (d) A person who:(1) gives: (A) a false report of the commission of a crime; or(B) false information to a law enforcement officer that relates to the commission of a crime; knowing the report or information to be false;
(2) gives a false alarm of fire to the fire department of a governmental entity, knowing the alarm to be false;(3) makes a false request for ambulance service to an ambulance service provider, knowing the request to be false;(4) gives a false report concerning a missing child (as defined in IC 10-13-5-4), missing veteran at risk (as defined in IC 12-7-2-197.3), or missing endangered adult (as defined in IC 12-7-2-131.3) or gives false information to a law enforcement officer or a governmental entity that relates to a missing child, missing veteran at risk, or missing endangered adult knowing the report or information to be false;(5) makes a complaint against a law enforcement officer to the state or municipality (as defined in IC 8-1-13-3(b)) that employs the officer:(A) alleging the officer engaged in misconduct while performing the officer's duties; and(B) knowing the complaint to be false;(6) makes a false report of a missing person, knowing the report or information is false;(7) gives a false report of actions, behavior, or conditions concerning: (A) a septic tank soil absorption system under IC 8-1-2-125 or IC 13-26-5-2.5; or(B) a septic tank soil absorption system or constructed wetland septic system under IC 36-9-23-30.1; knowing the report or information to be false; or
(8) makes a false report that a person is dangerous (as defined in IC 35-47-14-1) knowing the report or information to be false; commits false informing, a Class B misdemeanor except as provided in subsection (e).
(e) The offense described in subsection (d) is: (1) a Class A misdemeanor if it:(A) substantially hinders any law enforcement process; (B) results in harm to another person; or(C) is committed under subsection (d)(8);(2) a Level 6 felony if it: (A) is committed under subsection (d)(8); and(B) either: (i) substantially hinders any law enforcement process; or(ii) results in harm to another person; and(3) a Level 5 felony if it is committed under subsection (d)(8) and results in serious bodily injury or death to another person.Amended by P.L. 40-2024,SEC. 34, eff. 7/1/2024.Amended by P.L. 119-2024,SEC. 4, eff. 7/1/2024.Amended by P.L. 104-2024,SEC. 44, eff. 7/1/2024.Amended by P.L. 40-2024,SEC. 34, eff. 7/1/2024.Amended by P.L. 174-2021,SEC. 75, eff. 7/1/2021.Amended by P.L. 142-2020,SEC. 70, eff. 7/1/2020.Amended by P.L. 107-2016, SEC. 7, eff. 1/1/2016.Amended by P.L. 168-2014, SEC. 79, eff. 7/1/2014.Amended by P.L. 292-2013, SEC. 11, eff. 7/1/2013.Amended by P.L. 158-2013, SEC. 503, eff. 7/1/2014.Added by P.L. 126-2012, SEC. 54, eff. 7/1/2012.This section is set out more than once due to postponed, multiple, or conflicting amendments.