PRINTER'S NO. 446
No. 434 Session of 2001
INTRODUCED BY BOSCOLA, WOZNIAK, WAGNER, COSTA, MELLOW, BELL, MUSTO, WAUGH, LOGAN, RHOADES, KASUNIC AND STACK, FEBRUARY 12, 2001
REFERRED TO JUDICIARY, FEBRUARY 12, 2001
AN ACT 1 Amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania 2 Consolidated Statutes, further providing for willful 3 obstruction of emergency telephone calls. 4 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 5 hereby enacts as follows: 6 Section 1. Section 6902 of Title 18 of the Pennsylvania 7 Consolidated Statutes is amended to read: 8 § 6902. Willful obstruction of emergency telephone calls. 9 (a) Offense defined.-- 10 (1) A person is guilty of a summary offense if he 11 willfully refuses to relinquish immediately a party line when 12 informed that the line is needed for an emergency call to a 13 fire department or police department or for medical aid or 14 ambulance service, or if he secures the use of a party line 15 by falsely stating that the line is needed for an emergency 16 call. 17 (2) A person commits a misdemeanor of the third degree 18 if he willfully interferes with or prevents a person from
1 making an emergency call to a fire department, police 2 department, 911 system or public safety answering point. 3 (b) Notice to public.--Every telephone directory distributed 4 to the members of the general public in this Commonwealth, or in 5 any portion thereof, which lists the calling numbers of 6 telephones of any telephone exchange located in this 7 Commonwealth, shall contain a notice which explains the offense 8 provided for in this section. The notice shall be printed in 9 type which is not smaller than the smallest other type on the 10 same page, and to be preceded by the word "warning" printed in 11 type at least as large as the largest type on the same page. The 12 provisions of this subsection shall not apply to those 13 directories distributed solely for business advertising purposes 14 commonly known as classified directories. Any person, providing 15 telephone service which distributes, or causes to be 16 distributed, in this Commonwealth copies of a telephone 17 directory violating the provisions of this subsection, shall be 18 guilty of a summary offense. 19 (c) Definitions.--As used in this section, the following 20 words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this 21 subsection: 22 "911 system." A system which permits a person dialing 911 by 23 telephone to be connected to a public safety answering point, 24 via normal telephone facilities, for the reporting of police, 25 fire, medical or other emergency situations. 26 "Emergency." A situation in which property or human life are 27 in jeopardy and the prompt summoning of aid is essential. 28 "Party line." A subscriber's line telephone circuit, 29 consisting of two or more main telephone stations connected 30 therewith each station with a distinctive ring or telephone 20010S0434B0446 - 2 -
1 number. 2 "Public safety answering point." The first point at which 3 calls for emergency assistance from individuals are answered, 4 operated 24 hours a day. 5 Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days. A9L18BIL/20010S0434B0446 - 3 -