§338. Interfering with emergency communication

            A. The crime of interfering with emergency communication is committed when a person disconnects, damages, disables, removes, or uses physical force or intimidation to block access to any telephone or telecommunications device with the specific intent to interfere or prevent an individual from doing any of the following:

            (1) Using a 911 emergency telephone number.

            (2) Obtaining medical assistance.

            (3) Making a report to any law enforcement officer.

            B. Whoever commits the crime of interfering with emergency communication as defined by this Section shall be either fined not more than five hundred dollars, imprisoned for not more than six months, or both.

            C. For the purposes of this Section:

            (1) "Law enforcement officer" shall include commissioned police officers, state police officers, sheriffs, deputy sheriffs, marshals, deputy marshals, correctional officers, constables, wildlife enforcement agents, and probation and parole officers.

            (2) "Telecommunications device" shall mean any type of instrument, device, or machine that is capable of transmitting or receiving telephonic, electronic, radio, text, or data communications, including but not limited to a cellular telephone, a text-messaging device, a personal digital assistant, a computer, or any other similar wireless device that is designed to engage in a call or communicate text or data.

            Acts 2019, No. 12, §1.