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SB 81

Criminal Law - Interference With a Public Safety Answering Point - Penalties

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Cheryl Kagan

Maryland law now criminalizes interference with 911 call centers with enhanced penalties to protect emergency response operations from disruption.

Approved by the Governor - Chapter 160
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SB 81

Legislative bill overview

SB 81 enhances criminal penalties for individuals who interfere with, obstruct, or disrupt the operations of Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs)—the 911 call centers that dispatch emergency services. The bill establishes specific criminal offenses and graduated penalties for such interference, treating these disruptions as serious crimes given their potential to endanger public safety.

Why is this important

PSAPs are critical infrastructure that coordinate emergency response to fires, medical emergencies, and violent crimes. Interference with 911 systems—whether through false reports, threatening calls, or system hacking—can delay legitimate emergency responses and waste resources, potentially costing lives. This legislation creates legal deterrents and enforcement mechanisms against such disruptions.

Potential points of contention

  • Scope of "interference": The definition may be broad enough to capture unintentional disruptions, pranks, or accidental repeated calls alongside malicious conduct, raising questions about proportionality of penalties
  • Sentencing severity: Enhanced criminal penalties could result in felony charges for conduct that some argue should remain misdemeanor-level offenses, particularly for first-time or low-level offenders
  • Free speech considerations: Depending on how "obstruction" is defined, the law could potentially chill legitimate protest or expression if applied to demonstrations near emergency facilities

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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