The California Senate this week passed legislation cracking down on a hoax trend that has targeted celebrities by prank-calling 911 to bring out swarms of law enforcement teams to their homes.
Swatting calls in the last month brought police response to singer Rihanna’s Pacific Palisades home, as well as the homes of Justin Timberlake, Selena Gomez and Sean Combs.
Senate Bill 333, introduced by Democratic Sen. Ted Lieu, stiffens penalties for making false 911 calls. Lieu introduced the bill after police responded to his Torrance home last month to a false 911 call reporting he had shot his wife.
The bill was sponsored by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
Under the bill, callers making false 911 calls would have to pay for the cost of the emergency response. The crime of “swatting” is currently punishable by up to one year in jail or a $1,000 fine, with longer and higher penalties for calls that knowingly put responders at risk by sending them into harms way. But according to the Sacramento Bee, supporters of the bill argue the extra penalties are necessary due to the staff hours and financial burden the recent flurry of calls have placed on local police.
The bill passed 33-0 on Thursday with members of both parties in favor. It now heads to the Assembly for consideration.
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