In the state of California is it illegal to pull a fire alarm if there is no fire?

Answer 1

Hmmm... Then I must break the law several times each week!

Afterall, I pull them all the time to make sure they work and there is no fire.

But then again, that's part of my job. And I usually make an announcment first. And I often silence the system for the bulk of the test. Guess I should have mentioned that first, huh?

Let me bounce this off of you? Would it be illegal to pull the alarm if there was a bomb threat? What about a toxic substance? Those really aren't fires, but still a good reason to sound an alarm.

So no, it's not always illegal. But you better have a good reason, have prior authorization, or be a fire official.

Answer 2

Doc Cohen is close, but he has the wrong statute. Shane G is right, but doesn't have the statute.

Penal Code section 148.4 specifically relates to wilfully and maliciously sounding a false fire alarm. It is a misdemeanor carrying a year in jail. However, if as a result of the false alarm anybody suffers great bodily injury or death it can be a felony carrying up to three years in prison.

And, by the way, juveniles can be charged with crimes, too.

Answer 3

In all states its illegal you can get a big fine,jail time or both..people should not be pulling the alarms unless its for the real thing.

Answer 4

why would you even think of doing something so stupid. in my office building if you set off a false fire alarm they will fine you $1,000.00 because thats how much the city charges to send the fire department. while you are playing moronic games there may be a real fire or other emergency and the fireman would be held up because of some idiot.

Answer 5

as far as i know. isnt it illeagl in every state. come on you cant be serious. of course its against the law ! unless it was an accident its called ''false use of emergecy sevices''. generally its not something you would be arrested for though. they would probably just give you a fine, and a court date if you wanted to fight it. if not you'd have to pay the ticket and that would be the end of it. but in some places, and california is one of these places you could get stuck also paying for what it cost the city to respond to the call.and thats probably more then the fine. fireman are underpaid, but they still dont come cheap. dont mess with these people dude, these are the same people that risk their lives for us everyday. and who knows if that false alarm made them late for a real one.
mess with the cops if you really really have to,
but leave the fireman alone.

Answer 6

It is illegal. It qualifies as the false report of an emergency. See California Penal Code section 148.3.

http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/waisgate?WAISdocID=2924859932+5+0+0&WAISaction=retrieve

Answer 7

Yes it is illegal in any state. I imagine that if it was done for another reason though, such as to clear out the building under a bomb threat, or other emergency; that there would be no serious repercussions.

Answer 8

particular, at a mall. It develop right into a type of small ones on the escalator and that i lifted the cap to work out what might ensue. A no longer-so-loud alarm went off and that i rapidly dropped it and went decrease back to my relatives. i develop into 12.

Answer 9

yes unless there is an emergency situation not nessecarilly fire that needs immediate attention.

If you are under 18 just do it they can't charge you with anything though.

Also if you are sneaky enough you can probably get away with it.

Answer 10

Yes and do you know how much we tax payers have to pay each time a fire truck goes out.