When you need to get somewhere and you don’t have a car, what do you do? Personally, I would call a taxi or Uber to get me where I needed to go. When you need somewhere to stay, where do you go? Well, if I am in an area where I don’t know anyone, I would choose to stay at a hotel. These questions may seem silly, because they really are common sense. But, one woman was faced with this very dilemma and she did not go the common sense route. The woman called 911 multiple times faking a life threatening condition in order to get a free ride to the hospital and place to stay for the night. It wasn’t noticed right away, but had become a pattern of behavior, which led the police to do a little investigating. If this had occurred in Fort Collins, the woman could be facing False Reporting charges.
Larimer County False Reporting Attorney – What is False Reporting Exactly?
The Colorado law definition of False Reporting to Authorities – C.R.S. 18-8-111 – is:
(a) He or she knowingly:
(I) Causes by any means, including but not limited to activation, a false alarm of fire or other emergency or a false emergency exit alarm to sound or to be transmitted to or within an official or volunteer fire department, ambulance service, law enforcement agency, or any other government agency which deals with emergencies involving danger to life or property; or
(II) Prevents by any means, including but not limited to deactivation, a legitimate fire alarm, emergency exit alarm, or other emergency alarm from sounding or from being transmitted to or within an official or volunteer fire department, ambulance service, law enforcement agency, or any other government agency that deals with emergencies involving danger to life or property; or
(b) He makes a report or knowingly causes the transmission of a report to law enforcement authorities of a crime or other incident within their official concern when he knows that it did not occur; or
(c) He or she makes a report or knowingly causes the transmission of a report to law enforcement authorities pretending to furnish information relating to an offense or other incident within their official concern when he or she knows that he or she has no such information or knows that the information is false; or
(d) He or she knowingly provides false identifying information to law enforcement authorities.
In Larimer, Boulder, and Grand County, the situation would result in False Reporting charges because the woman caused ambulance service and other first responders to react to her emergency call when she knew very well she did not have an emergency.
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Fort Collins False Reporting to Authorities – What is the Potential Punishment?
As a class 3 misdemeanor in Fort Collins, Loveland, and Estes Park, False Reporting is punishable by up to 6 months in the Larimer County Jail and $750 in fines. An experienced criminal defense attorney may be able to help you avoid any jail time if you have been charged with this crime. Here at the O’Malley Law Office, if trial is not an option, we always push for plea bargains that avoid jail time and minimize the negative effects on your life.