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False Reporting to an officer will result in consequences that will require a defense attorney to get you out of hot water. It is lying and getting caught in the lie told. An example will be getting stopped by a law enforcement officer and asked if you have any weapons in the vehicle. If you have a concealed weapon inside the vehicle and are fully aware, you may nevertheless tell the officer no. This is false reporting. If there is reason to suspect something is not right, the officer may ask you to search your vehicle, and they then find the weapon; you are now charged with false reporting.

The Law on False Reporting in Mesa, Arizona

A.R.S. §13-2907 is Arizona’s false reporting statute. False reporting does not just apply to reports which mislead emergency response teams to a false bomb threat, fire, or any offense that is not real. False reporting also encompasses calling 911 with no real emergency, since this pulls emergency responders from real emergencies.

A.R.S §13-2907.01 explains that it is illegal for anyone to make a statement to a law enforcement agency with full knowledge and intent to mislead the officer. It is also states that interfering with an orderly operation by misrepresenting facts is illegal.

The Penalties for False Reporting

There are stiff fines and penalties for false reporting. It is considered a Class 1 Misdemeanor and a judge has the discretion to impose the following penalties:

• Up to six months in jail;
• $2,500 in fines with an 84% surcharge; and
• Probation for up to three years.

False Reporting is a crime of dishonesty and has long term effects such as being used against you if you are involved in a lawsuit or child custody battle.

Getting the Help You Need with a Mesa, Arizona Defense Attorney

Innocent or not, if you have been charged with false reporting you will want a Mesa defense attorney that can clear your name and reputation. They can get to the bottom of what happened and see if any protocols got broken in the process. Some laws have loopholes that only a good defense lawyer from Mesa, Arizona, can help with. Contact the Rosenstein Law Group today to receive a free initial case evaluation.