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RSA 644:3 · False Public Alarms

Title
LXII: CRIMINAL CODE
Chapter
644 · BREACHES OF THE PEACE AND RELATED OFFENSES
Status
current
Official source linked
Yes
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644:3 False Public Alarms. –

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I.

Any person who directly or indirectly communicates to any governmental agency that commonly deals with emergencies involving danger to life or property a report known by him to be false regarding a fire, explosion, or other catastrophe or emergency, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor; except if the report concerns the presence of an active shooter, the presence of an explosive device, or the presence of a biological or chemical substance, the offense shall constitute a class B felony.

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II.

Any person who directly or indirectly communicates to any school, business, office building, hospital, or similar facility open to the public, a report concerning the presence of an active shooter, the presence of an explosive device, or the presence of a biological or chemical substance, knowing such report is false, shall be guilty of a class B felony.

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III.

Any person who knowingly delivers, or causes the delivery of any substance the actor knows could reasonably be perceived as a biological or chemical substance, with the purpose of causing fear or terrorism and with reckless disregard for the risk that emergency services will be dispatched as a result of such delivery, shall be guilty of a class B felony.

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IV.

This section shall not apply to false alarms subject to RSA 644:3-a or RSA 644:3-b, or false reports under RSA 158:38. Source. 1971, 518:1. 1975, 25:1. 1981, 553:3. 2002, 222:8, eff. Jan. 1, 2003. 2023, 104:1, eff. Jan. 1, 2024.

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Source note

Source. 1971, 518:1. 1975, 25:1. 1981, 553:3. 2002, 222:8, eff. Jan. 1, 2003. 2023, 104:1, eff. Jan. 1, 2024.

Source history

  • 1971, 518:1
  • 1975, 25:1
  • 1981, 553:3
  • 2002, 222:8, eff. Jan. 1, 2003
  • 2023, 104:1, eff. Jan. 1, 2024

Related materials

Bill relationships

  • 2026 HB1013 amend

    wherein the object is to capture a pig. Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened: 1 New Section; Contests Involving Pigs. Amend RSA 644 by inserting after section 8-g the following new section: 644:8-h Contests Involving Pigs. In order to promote an educational, humane, and safe event for contestants, livestock, and viewers, and in consultation with l

  • 2026 HB1013-FN amend

    wherein the object is to capture a pig. Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened: 1 New Section; Contests Involving Pigs. Amend RSA 644 by inserting after section 8-g the following new section: 644:8-h Contests Involving Pigs. In order to promote an educational, humane, and safe event for contestants, livestock, and viewers, and in consultation with l

  • 2026 HB293 amend · effective 2026-01-01

    son who disables a filter may be subject to criminal prosecution under RSA 644:9-b. 3 New Section; Disabling an Electronic Device Filter for the Purpose of Allowing Access to Obscene Material by a Minor. Amend RSA 644 by inserting after section 9-a the following new section: 644:9-b Disabling an Electronic Device Filter for the Purpose of Allowing Access to Obscene Material by a Minor. I. The terms "device", "filter", "manu

  • 2026 HB293-FN amend · effective 2026-01-01

    subject to criminal prosecution under RSA 644:9-b. 3 New Section; Disabling an Electronic Device Filter for the Purpose of Allowing Access to Obscene Material by a Minor. Amend RSA 644 by inserting after section 9-a the following new section: 644:9-b Disabling an Electronic Device Filter for the Purpose of Allowing Access to Obscene Material by a Minor. I. The terms "device", "filter", "manufactur

  • 2025 HB201 add

    Two Thousand Twenty Five AN ACT prohibiting the removal of claws from cats. Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened: 1 New Section; Removal of Claws from Cats. Amend RSA 644 by inserting after section 8-g the following new section: 644:8-h Removal of Claws from Cats Prohibited. I. No person shall remove the claws of a cat by performing an onychectomy, partial or complete phalangec

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