509.07 MAKING FALSE ALARMS.

   (a)   No person shall do any of the following:

      (1)   Initiate or circulate a report or warning of an alleged or impending fire, explosion, crime or other catastrophe, knowing that the report or warning is false and likely to cause public inconvenience or alarm;

      (2)   Knowingly cause a false alarm of fire or other emergency to be transmitted to or within any organization, public or private, for dealing with emergencies involving a risk of physical harm to persons or property;

      (3)   Report to any law enforcement agency an alleged offense or other incident within its concern, knowing that such offense did not occur.

      (4)    Initiate or circulate a report or warning of an alleged or impending fire, explosion, crime, or other catastrophe, knowing that the report or warning is false and likely to impede the operation of a critical infrastructure facility.

   (b)   This section does not apply to any person conducting an authorized fire or emergency drill. (ORC 2917.32)

   (c)   Whoever violates this section is guilty of making false alarms, a misdemeanor of the first degree. If a violation of this section results in economic harm of one thousand dollars ($1,000) or more, or if a violation of this section pertains to a purported, threatened, or actual use of a weapon of mass destruction, making false alarms is a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate State law. (Ord. 102-11. Passed 10-11-11.)

   (d)   Any act that is a violation of this section and any other section of the Codified Ordinances may be prosecuted under this section, the other section, or both sections.

   (e)    As used in this section:

      (1)   “Critical infrastructure facility” has the same meaning as in Ohio R.C. 2911.21.

      (2)   “Economic harm”and “weapon of mass destruction” have the same meaning as in Section 509.06. (ORC 2917.32; Ord. 16-22. Passed 2-14-22.)