The Vermont Statutes Online
The Statutes below include the actions of the 2025 session of the General Assembly.
NOTE: The Vermont Statutes Online is an unofficial copy of the Vermont Statutes Annotated that is provided as a convenience.
§ 1751. False alarms to agencies of public safety
(a) A person who willfully or knowingly gives, or aids or abets in giving, by any means
any false alarm of fire or other emergency to be transmitted to or within any organization,
official or volunteer, for dealing with emergencies involving danger to life or property
shall be imprisoned for not more than one year or fined not more than $1,000.00, or
both.
(b) If bodily injury or death is sustained by any person as a result of a violation of
this section, the person convicted of the violation in lieu of any penalty imposed
by subsection (a) of this section shall be imprisoned for not more than five years
or fined not more than $2,000.00, or both; however, this subsection shall not prevent
the imposition of a greater fine or sentence against any person who is convicted of
any degree of homicide, including manslaughter. (Added 1971, No. 169 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)
§ 1752. Tampering with facilities
A person who willfully or knowingly tampers with, interferes with, or impairs any
public fire alarm apparatus, wire, or associated equipment shall be imprisoned for
not more than one year or fined not more than $1,000.00, or both. (Added 1971, No. 169 (Adj. Sess.), § 2.)
§ 1753. False public alarms
(a) A person who initiates or willfully circulates or transmits a report or warning of
an impending bombing or other offense or catastrophe, knowing that the report or warning
is false or baseless and that it is likely to cause evacuation of a building, place
of assembly, or facility of public transport, or to cause public inconvenience or
alarm, shall, for the first offense, be imprisoned for not more than two years or
fined not more than $5,000.00, or both. For the second or subsequent offense, the
person shall be imprisoned for not more than five years or fined not more than $10,000.00,
or both. In addition, the court may order the person to perform community service.
Any community service ordered under this section shall be supervised by the Department
of Corrections.
(b) [Repealed.] (Added 1971, No. 169 (Adj. Sess.), § 3; amended 1997, No. 153 (Adj. Sess.), § 3; 1999, No. 113 (Adj. Sess.), § 20; 1999, No. 124 (Adj. Sess.), § 4; 2015, No. 147 (Adj. Sess.), § 11, eff. May 31, 2016.)
§ 1754. False reports to law enforcement authorities
(a) A person who knowingly gives false information to any law enforcement officer with
purpose to implicate another or to deflect an investigation from the person or another
person shall be imprisoned for not more than one year or fined not more than $1,000.00,
or both.
(b) A person shall be imprisoned for not more than six months or fined not more than $500.00,
or both, if the person:
(1) reports to law enforcement authorities an offense or other incident within their concern
knowing that it did not occur; or
(2) pretends to furnish such authorities with information relating to an offense or incident
when the person knows the person has no information relating to such offense or incident. (Added 1971, No. 169 (Adj. Sess.), § 4; amended 1981, No. 223 (Adj. Sess.), § 23; 2005, No. 149 (Adj. Sess.), § 1.)