Minnesota Legislature
House OK’s bill to increase penalties for ‘swatting’
Making a fictitious emergency call that a serious crime is underway is a gross misdemeanor in Minnesota.
House Minority Leader Lisa Demuth (R-Cold Spring) wants to make it a felony when a swatting call sends first responders to the home of an elected official, judge, prosecuting attorney, employee of a correctional facility or a peace officer.
The House passed the bill she sponsors, HF3757, early Friday. Following a 127-0 vote, it now goes to the Senate.
“We know that swatting is something that can lead to deadly results,” Demuth told the House Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee April 4.
Intentionally luring first responders to a false emergency endangers the safety of more than just the first responders, Demuth said. It puts anyone in that home at risk, plus bystanders who could be struck by emergency vehicles rushing to the scene.
Demuth added swatting that falsely reports crimes such as an imminent bombing or a hostage situation can also divert a significant number of first responders away from what could be a true emergency incident.
Related Articles
Search Session Daily
Advanced Search OptionsPriority Dailies
Ways and Means Committee OKs proposed $512 million supplemental budget on party-line vote
By Mike Cook
Meeting more needs or fiscal irresponsibility is one way to sum up the differences among the two parties on a supplemental spending package a year after a $72 billion state budg...
Minnesota’s projected budget surplus balloons to $3.7 billion, but fiscal pressure still looms
By Rob Hubbard
Just as Minnesota has experienced a warmer winter than usual, so has the state’s budget outlook warmed over the past few months.
On Thursday, Minnesota Management and Budget...
