It shall be unlawful to willfully, knowingly and without probable cause make a false report to any person of any crime or circumstances indicating the possibility of crime having been committed, including the unlawful taking of personal property, which report causes or encourages the exercise of police action or investigation. Any person convicted of violating the provisions of this subsection shall be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than ninety (90) days or by a fine of not more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), or by both such fine and imprisonment.

1. B. It shall be unlawful to willfully, knowingly, and without probable cause communicate false information concerning a missing child to a law enforcement agency that causes or encourages the activation of an AMBER alert warning system. Any person convicted of violating the provisions of this subsection shall be guilty of a Class D3 felony offense punishable by imprisonment as provided for in subsections B through F of Section 20P of this title, or by a fine of not less than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), or by both such fine and imprisonment.

Laws 1961, HB 810, p. 227, § 1; Amended by Laws 2005, HB 1294, c. 109, § 1, November 1, 2005 (superseded document available); Amended by Laws 2007, SB 371, c. 189, § 1, eff. November 1, 2007 (superseded document available); Amended by Laws 2025, HB 2104, c. 486, § 667, eff. January 1, 2026 (superseded document available).