Are Prank Phone Calls Illegal?
Whether or not a prank phone call is illegal can depend on where you live and what type of call you receive. Harassing phone calls are illegal, but what constitutes harassment? In Texas, for example, there doesn´t have to be a threat involved. The act of simply making repeated phone calls is considered to be harassment. Another factor in whether prank calls are illegal has to do with who receives them. For instance, it is illegal to prank phone call police or fire departments or to call in a bomb threat. When prank calls can waste emergency crews´ resources or causes businesses or schools to close down, it is illegal. They go beyond a simple prank into a malicious act and are punishable by fine or jail sentences. A loose interpretation of the Telecommunications Law seems to allow for prank calls as long as they don´t intend to cause fear or intimidation or threaten, abuse, or harass the receiver of the call. If you receive a prank phone call, you have several options. If you think that
