609.78 Emergency telephone calls and communications. 

    Subdivision 1.    Misdemeanor offenses.  Whoever does 
 the following is guilty of a misdemeanor: 

    (1) Refuses to relinquish immediately a coin-operated 
 telephone or a telephone line consisting of two or more stations 
 when informed that the line is needed to make an emergency call 
 for medical or ambulance service or for assistance from a police 
 or fire department or for other service needed in an emergency 
 to avoid serious harm to person or property, and an emergency 
 exists; 

    (2) Secures a relinquishment of a coin-operated telephone 
 or a telephone line consisting of two or more stations by 
 falsely stating that the line is needed for an emergency; 

    (3) Publishes telephone directories to be used for 
 telephones or telephone lines and the directories do not contain 
 a copy of this section; 

    (4) Makes an emergency call for medical or ambulance 
 service, knowing that no medical emergency exists; or 

    (5) Interrupts, disrupts, impedes, or otherwise interferes 
 with the transmission of a citizen's band radio channel 
 communication the purpose of which is to inform or inquire about 
 a medical emergency or an emergency in which property is or is 
 reasonably believed to be in imminent danger of damage or 
 destruction. 

    Subd. 2.    Interference with a 911 call; gross 
 misdemeanor offense.  A person who intentionally interrupts, 
 disrupts, impedes, or otherwise interferes with a 911 call or 
 who prevents or hinders another from placing a 911 call, and 
 whose conduct does not result in a violation of section 609.498, 
 is guilty of a gross misdemeanor and may be sentenced to 
 imprisonment for not more than one year or to payment of a fine 
 of not more than $3,000, or both. 

    HIST: 1963 c 753 art 1 s 609.78; 1971 c 23 s 79; 1983 c 140 s 
 1; 1984 c 630 s 1; 1997 c 239 art 3 s 19