911 is an important way for emergency responders to keep people safe. When someone gets in the way of a 911 call, the penalties can be serious. If you are facing charges for interfering with a 911 call in Minnesota, you need an experienced attorney on your side.
Understanding Interference with a 911 Call Charges
It is a crime to intentionally interfere with a 911 call. When someone is attempting to call for help, you cannot attempt to prevent them from doing so. Interfering with a 911 call can lead to serious charges that include jail time and fines.
Charges of interfering with a 911 call usually occur when an individual stops, or tries to stop, someone from making an emergency call for help. For example, keeping someone from a phone when they need to call for help, or taking away a phone and ending a 911 call prematurely, can lead to these charges against you. You can be charged even if the person ends up completing the call and law enforcement responds to the request for help.
Some common examples of interfering with a 911 call occur during a domestic dispute, during an assault, or after a traffic accident. Someone who feels threatened, or injured, may try to call 911, while another individual works to prevent the call from taking place.
In many cases, an individual interfering with a 911 call does not know that he or she is committing a crime. However, this lack of knowledge does not make you exempt from criminal liability.
Interfering with a 911 call is typically charged as a gross misdemeanor, which means you can face up to a year in prison and fines of up to $3,000. Depending on the circumstances of the case, your charges and penalties may be even more strict. For example, if your interference leads to severe injury, or even death, then you can be charged with a felony – even though you intended no harm.
911 Interference Defense Lawyer
Any charges involving interference with law enforcement are serious, and warrant the attention of an experienced attorney. If you try to fight these charges alone, you may end up facing the maximum fine. The moment you are aware of any charges being filed against you, it’s important to contact a qualified defense lawyer so you can begin to build your case.
A 911 interference defense lawyer will gather the necessary evidence to prove your innocence. In many cases, your attorney will be able to get your charges reduced, or even dropped. The last thing you need is a conviction for interfering with a 911 call. Without an attorney on your side, that’s exactly what you may face.
Always A Free Consultation
If you are up against 911 call interference charges, our attorneys can help. At the Brown Law Offices, P.A., we have the knowledge and experience to build your case – so you end up with the best possible outcome. Don’t try to fight against your charges alone. Call us today at 763-323-6555, or complete our free online consultation form and a lawyer with our firm will contact you shortly.