Project proposed to penalize false emergency calls

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SANTIAGO. -  In the midst of the growing number of false alarms being reported to the emergency telephone lines of police, firefighters and other emergency services, representatives Felipe Ward and Álvaro Escobar have proposed a law to regulate the matter. 

Through the legal initiative, the members of Parliament are hoping to be able to charge those who make such calls and apply punishments such as jail time and fines of 150 to 300 UTM in an attempt to discourage such acts.

The legislators have indicated that this type of conduct causes serious problems and puts safety and rescue services on alert, utilizing economic and human resources for a threat that is ultimately the result of “idle and sickly minds”.

The representatives said that this is the reason they have proposed the initiative to instate charges against those who make light of emergency help numbers and jeopardize resources for those who truly need help.