(1) Initiate or circulate a report or warning of an alleged or impending fire, explosion, crime, or other catastrophe, knowing that the report or warning is false and likely to cause public inconvenience or alarm;
(2) Knowingly cause a false alarm of fire or other emergency to be transmitted to or within any organization, public or private, for dealing with emergencies involving a risk of physical harm to persons or property;
(3) Report to any law enforcement agency an alleged offense or other incident within its concern, knowing that such offense did not occur;
(4) Initiate or circulate a report or warning of an alleged or impending fire, explosion, crime, or other catastrophe, knowing that the report or warning is false and likely to impede the operation of a critical infrastructure facility.
(B) This section does not apply to any person conducting an authorized fire or emergency drill.
(C)(1) Whoever violates this section is guilty of making false alarms.
(2) Except as otherwise provided in division (C)(3), (4), (5), or (6) of this section, making false alarms is a misdemeanor of the first degree.
(3) Except as otherwise provided in division (C)(4) of this section, if a violation of this section results in economic harm of one thousand dollars or more but less than seven thousand five hundred dollars, making false alarms is a felony of the fifth degree.
(4) If a violation of this section pertains to a purported, threatened, or actual use of a weapon of mass destruction, making false alarms is a felony of the third degree.
(5) If a violation of this section results in economic harm of seven thousand five hundred dollars or more but less than one hundred fifty thousand dollars and if division (C)(4) of this section does not apply, making false alarms is a felony of the fourth degree.
(6) If a violation of this section results in economic harm of one hundred fifty thousand dollars or more, making false alarms is a felony of the third degree.
(D)(1) It is not a defense to a charge under this section that pertains to a purported or threatened use of a weapon of mass destruction that the offender did not possess or have the ability to use a weapon of mass destruction or that what was represented to be a weapon of mass destruction was not a weapon of mass destruction.
(2) Any act that is a violation of this section and any other section of the Revised Code may be prosecuted under this section, the other section, or both sections.
(E) As used in this section:
(1) "Critical infrastructure facility" has the same meaning as in section 2911.21 of the Revised Code.
(2) "Economic harm" and "weapon of mass destruction" have the same meanings as in section 2917.31 of the Revised Code.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 35
cases (18 in the last 5 years), 1988–2026 · leading case: State v. Christian, 2014-Ohio-2672.
State v. Christian, 2014-Ohio-2672. · cites it 8ד86 F3 $100,000 or more $150,000 or more F4 $5,000 or more but less than $100,000 $7,500 or more but less than $150,000 F5 $500 or more but less than $5,000 $1,000 or more but less than $7,500 M1 Less than $500 Less than $1,000 Making False Alarms, R.C. 2917.32 (based on Economic…”
State v. Christian (Slip Opinion), 2020-Ohio-828, 152 N.E.3d 216. · cites it 3ד47(B)(1) and a third- degree felony: 36 months; Count Three—making false alarms, a violation of R.C. 2917.32(A)(3) and a fourth-degree felony: 18 months; Count Four—making false alarms, a violation of R.”
Fisher v. Ahmed, 2020-Ohio-1196, 153 N.E.3d 612. · cites it 2דThe amended complaint asserted two counts of defamation per se, and one count each of intentional infliction of emotional distress, loss of consortium, and civil liability for violation of R.C. 2917.32. Ahmed filed a Civ.R. 12(B)(6) motion to dismiss the amended complaint for…”
Smith v. Erie Ins. Co. (Slip Opinion), 2016-Ohio-7742, 69 N.E.3d 711. · cites it 2דStatements made to a police officer—for which an insured could face criminal liability if they were knowingly false, see R.C. 2917.32(A)(3) and (C)—could constitute additional evidence that supports the testimony of the insured.”
State v. Miller, 2021-Ohio-162. · cites it 2ד(b) All costs incurred by the state or any political subdivision as a result of, or in making any response to, the criminal conduct that constituted the violation of this section or section 2917.32 of the Revised Code, including, but not limited to, all costs so incurred by any…”
State v. Tidwell (Slip Opinion), 2021-Ohio-2072, 175 N.E.3d 527. “But the informant could not know whether his identity might later be discovered based on his face-to-face contact with the police, surveillance video at the Speedway, or further investigation.”
State v. Arnold, 2023-Ohio-1223. · cites it 12ד” Under R.C. 2917.32(A)(2), the section of the false alarm statute that prohibits a person from “[k]nowingly caus[ing] a false alarm of fire or other emergency to be transmitted,” a person violates the statute by causing a false alarm to be made as opposed to reporting a false…”
State v. Wills, 2013-Ohio-4507. · cites it 2ד11 that constituted the violation of this section or section 2917.32 of the Revised Code, including, but not limited to, all costs so incurred by any law enforcement officers, firefighters, rescue personnel, or emergency medical services personnel of the state or the political…”
In re M.A., 2016-Ohio-1161. “31(A)(1), a felony of the second degree if committed by an adult; one count of Making False Alarms, in violation of R.C. 2917.32(A)(1), a felony of the fifth degree if committed by an adult; and one count of Telecommunications Harassment, in violation of R.”
State v. Sommer, 797 N.E.2d 559 (Ohio Ct. App. 5th Dist. 2003). “STATEMENT OF THE FACTS AND CASE {¶ 2} On July 22, 2002, appellant entered pleas of no contest to the following offenses: Count I, one count of making false alarms, in violation of R.C. 2917.32(A)(3)(F4); Count II, one count of theft in office, in violation of R.”
State v. Schooler, 2020-Ohio-4327. · cites it 2דSchooler reasons that Washington “presumably” was convicted of violating R.C. 2917.32, which involves knowingly making or reporting a false alarm or knowingly reporting an offense that did not -8- occur.”
State v. Myers, 695 N.E.2d 1226 (Ohio Ct. App. 12th Dist. 1997). “R.C. 2917.32 describes the crime of making false alarms; it states in part: “(A) No person shall do either of the following: "(1) Initiate or circulate a report or warning of an alleged or impending fire, explosion, crime, or other catastrophe, knowing that the report or warning…”
State v. Tidwell (Slip Opinion), 2021-Ohio-2072, 175 N.E.3d 527. “But the informant could not know whether his identity might later be discovered based on his face-to-face contact with the police, surveillance video at the Speedway, or further investigation.”
In re M.A., 2016-Ohio-1161. “31(A)(1), a felony of the second degree if committed by an adult; one count of Making False Alarms, in violation of R.C. 2917.32(A)(1), a felony of the fifth degree if committed by an adult; and one count of Telecommunications Harassment, in violation of R.”
State v. Arnold, 2023-Ohio-1223. “” Under R.C. 2917.32(A)(2), the section of the false alarm statute that prohibits a person from “[k]nowingly caus[ing] a false alarm of fire or other emergency to be transmitted,” a person violates the statute by causing a false alarm to be made as opposed to reporting a false…”
Ohio Rev. Code § 2917.32(A)(3): 12 cases
State v. Christian (Slip Opinion), 2020-Ohio-828, 152 N.E.3d 216. “47(B)(1) and a third- degree felony: 36 months; Count Three—making false alarms, a violation of R.C. 2917.32(A)(3) and a fourth-degree felony: 18 months; Count Four—making false alarms, a violation of R.”
Smith v. Erie Ins. Co. (Slip Opinion), 2016-Ohio-7742, 69 N.E.3d 711. “Statements made to a police officer—for which an insured could face criminal liability if they were knowingly false, see R.C. 2917.32(A)(3) and (C)—could constitute additional evidence that supports the testimony of the insured.”
State v. Arnold, 2023-Ohio-1223. “” Under R.C. 2917.32(A)(2), the section of the false alarm statute that prohibits a person from “[k]nowingly caus[ing] a false alarm of fire or other emergency to be transmitted,” a person violates the statute by causing a false alarm to be made as opposed to reporting a false…”
State v. Christian, 2014-Ohio-2672. “86 F3 $100,000 or more $150,000 or more F4 $5,000 or more but less than $100,000 $7,500 or more but less than $150,000 F5 $500 or more but less than $5,000 $1,000 or more but less than $7,500 M1 Less than $500 Less than $1,000 Making False Alarms, R.C. 2917.32 (based on Economic…”
State v. Sommer, 797 N.E.2d 559 (Ohio Ct. App. 5th Dist. 2003). “STATEMENT OF THE FACTS AND CASE {¶ 2} On July 22, 2002, appellant entered pleas of no contest to the following offenses: Count I, one count of making false alarms, in violation of R.C. 2917.32(A)(3)(F4); Count II, one count of theft in office, in violation of R.”
Ohio Rev. Code § 2917.32(C): 1 case
State v. Christian, 2014-Ohio-2672. “86 F3 $100,000 or more $150,000 or more F4 $5,000 or more but less than $100,000 $7,500 or more but less than $150,000 F5 $500 or more but less than $5,000 $1,000 or more but less than $7,500 M1 Less than $500 Less than $1,000 Making False Alarms, R.C. 2917.32 (based on Economic…”
Ohio Rev. Code § 2917.32(E): 1 case
State v. Christian, 2014-Ohio-2672. “86 F3 $100,000 or more $150,000 or more F4 $5,000 or more but less than $100,000 $7,500 or more but less than $150,000 F5 $500 or more but less than $5,000 $1,000 or more but less than $7,500 M1 Less than $500 Less than $1,000 Making False Alarms, R.C. 2917.32 (based on Economic…”
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