Interfering with 911 Call in Connecticut Lawyer
If you have been accused of interfering with an emergency services call, it is a good idea to talk to an interfering with 911-call lawyer. An experienced and top-ranked criminal defense attorney can help protect your rights and build a strong defense to help you reach a positive outcome.
How Is Interference Treated as a Criminal Offense?
Crimes in Connecticut are classified as either misdemeanors or felonies. Misdemeanors may be less severe than felonies when it comes to jail time, fines, and post conviction consequences, but any and every arrest should be treated seriously.
How Does the Connecticut Penal Code Define 53a-183b?
You can be convicted of interference with a 911 call under Connecticut General Statutes (C.G.S.) §53a-183b only if you interfered intentionally. You must intend to prevent another person from making or completing a call or sending a radio message to law enforcement officials or 911.
Moreover, to violate the statute, the call interfered with must include a request for police protection or to report the commission of a crime.
Actions that may constitute a violation include:
- Hanging up or disconnecting a call
- Breaking someone’s phone
- Taking someone’s phone out of their hands
- Speaking into someone else’s emergency call to deny the need for police assistance
- Threatening someone with harm if they make or continue a call
A Connecticut 911 interference defense lawyer can file a motion to preserve digital recordings of a call or seek other evidence to show either that interference did not occur or that it was accidental.
What are the Penalties for Interfering with a 911 Call?
Interfering with a 911 call in Connecticut is a Class A misdemeanor, the most serious misdemeanor category. If you are convicted for an alleged offense, you can face up to 12 months of incarceration and a fine as high as $2,000. The unofficial consequences of a conviction, however, often cause more long-term problems than the fines and other official penalties. Having a criminal conviction on the record can make it difficult for you to obtain desired housing, take advantage of job opportunities, or even enjoy a social life. A defense lawyer familiar with 911 interference charges in Connecticut can work to minimize the negative consequences.
Contact an Interfering with 911 call in Connecticut (53a-183b) Attorney
To protect those who are potentially vulnerable, such as victims of domestic violence, public policy favors prosecution of those who take action deemed to interfere with a 911 call. If you are charged with this offense, it is wise to develop an effective defense strategy.
An interfering with 911 call lawyer could start right away interviewing witnesses and reviewing call records to collect evidence to fight the charges. For a consultation to learn more about the advantages a defense lawyer could provide in your case, reach out to Mark Sherman Law.