Wisconsin Statutes

Wis. Stat. § 947.012 (2026)

Unlawful use of telephone

✓ current as of July 2026

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947.012947.012 Unlawful use of telephone.

947.012(1)(1) Whoever does any of the following is guilty of a Class B misdemeanor:

947.012(1)(a)(a) With intent to frighten, intimidate, threaten, abuse or harass, makes a telephone call and threatens to inflict injury or physical harm to any person or the property of any person.

947.012(1)(b)(b) With intent to frighten, intimidate, threaten or abuse, telephones another and uses any obscene, lewd or profane language or suggests any lewd or lascivious act.

947.012(1)(c)(c) Makes a telephone call, whether or not conversation ensues, without disclosing his or her identity and with intent to abuse or threaten any person at the called number.

947.012(2)(2) Whoever does any of the following is subject to a Class B forfeiture:

947.012(2)(a)(a) With intent to harass or offend, telephones another and uses any obscene, lewd or profane language or suggests any lewd or lascivious act.

947.012(2)(b)(b) Makes or causes the telephone of another repeatedly to ring, with intent to harass any person at the called number.

947.012(2)(c)(c) Makes repeated telephone calls, whether or not conversation ensues, with intent solely to harass any person at the called number.

947.012(2)(d)(d) Makes a telephone call, whether or not conversation ensues, without disclosing his or her identity and with intent to harass any person at the called number.

947.012(2)(e)(e) Knowingly permits any telephone under his or her control to be used for any purpose prohibited by this section.

947.012 HistoryHistory: 1979 c. 131; 1991 a. 39.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 13 cases (2 in the last 5 years), 1991–2025 · leading case: State v. Schwebke, 2002 WI 55 (Wis. 2002).

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State v. Schwebke, 2002 WI 55 (Wis. 2002). · cites it 4× “See Wis. Stat. §§ 947.012 and 947.013. Schwebke contends that, by creating these separate and more narrowly tailored provisions, the legislature intended any harassing conduct, like the conduct in this case, to be charged under this provision, not under the broad language of the…”

State v. Warbelton, 2009 WI 6 (Wis. 2009). · cites it 2× “6 This case was consolidated with two other criminal cases against Warbelton, alleging three counts of bail jumping and two violations of a domestic abuse order.”

State v. Warbelton, 2008 WI App 42 (Wis. Ct. App. 2008). · cites it 2× “Count Two alleged that on October 31,2003, Warbelton committed telephone harassment, in violation of Wis. Stat. § 947.012 (l)(a). Count Three alleged that on February 22, 2004, Warbelton committed disorderly conduct, in violation of Wis.”

State v. Dawson, 536 N.W.2d 119 (Wis. Ct. App. 1995). · cites it 2× “; one count of unlawful use of a telephone, contrary to § 947.012, Stats.; and one count of bail jumping, contrary to § 946.”

State v. McKellips, 2015 WI App 31 (Wis. Ct. App. 2015). · cites it 2× “In addition to creating Wis. Stat. § 947.0125 , 1995 Wis. Act 353 also grouped the new statute together with the existing Wis.”

Wisconsin Prof'l Police Ass'n v. Pub. Serv. Comm'n, 555 N.W.2d 179 (Wis. Ct. App. 1996). · cites it 2× “" In addition, under § 947.012(2)(d) , "Whoever does any of the following is subject to a Class B forfeiture: .”

State v. Nienhardt, 537 N.W.2d 123 (Wis. Ct. App. 1995). “Nienhardt was charged with ten counts of unlawful use of a telephone contrary to § 947.012(1), STATS., as a result of harassing telephone calls she made to Judith Kilmer.”

State v. Jefferson, 471 N.W.2d 274 (Wis. Ct. App. 1991). “, and use of the telephone to threaten to inflict injury or physical harm is a potential violation of sec. 947.012(1), Stats. Thus, there was sufficient evidence before the trial court to find that Jefferson was dangerous to himself and others, and therefore, as a matter of law,…”

State v. Burrows, 925 N.W.2d 789 (Wis. Ct. App. 2018). “§ 947.012(1)(b), and defamation, in violation of WIS.”

State v. Heyer, 496 N.W.2d 779 (Wis. Ct. App. 1993). “(1989-90), and making harassing phone calls, sec. 947.012(4), Stats. (1989-90), and arose from incidents in 1989.”

Off. of Lawyer Reg. v. Schwitzer, 2017 WI 53 (Wis. 2017). · cites it 2× “The complaint alleged that on February 4, 2014, Attorney Schwitzer was convicted in Brown County of unlawful phone use - threatens harm, in violation of Wis. Stat. § 947.012 (l)(a), a Class B misdemeanor; Possession of THC, in violation of Wis.”

State v. Christopher W. Yakich (Wis. Ct. App. 2021). “§ 947.012(1) (providing that unlawful use of a telephone is a Class B misdemeanor); WIS.”

Show all 13 citing cases →

— Wis. Stat. § 947.012(1) — 3 cases

State v. Nienhardt, 537 N.W.2d 123 (Wis. Ct. App. 1995). “Nienhardt was charged with ten counts of unlawful use of a telephone contrary to § 947.012(1), STATS., as a result of harassing telephone calls she made to Judith Kilmer.”

State v. Jefferson, 471 N.W.2d 274 (Wis. Ct. App. 1991). “, and use of the telephone to threaten to inflict injury or physical harm is a potential violation of sec. 947.012(1), Stats. Thus, there was sufficient evidence before the trial court to find that Jefferson was dangerous to himself and others, and therefore, as a matter of law,…”

State v. Christopher W. Yakich (Wis. Ct. App. 2021). “§ 947.012(1) (providing that unlawful use of a telephone is a Class B misdemeanor); WIS.”

— Wis. Stat. § 947.012(1)(a) — 1 case

State v. Gillie Robinson (Wis. Ct. App. 2025).

— Wis. Stat. § 947.012(1)(b) — 1 case

State v. Burrows, 925 N.W.2d 789 (Wis. Ct. App. 2018). “§ 947.012(1)(b), and defamation, in violation of WIS.”

— Wis. Stat. § 947.012(2)(d) — 1 case

Wisconsin Prof'l Police Ass'n v. Pub. Serv. Comm'n, 555 N.W.2d 179 (Wis. Ct. App. 1996). “" In addition, under § 947.012(2)(d) , "Whoever does any of the following is subject to a Class B forfeiture: .”

— Wis. Stat. § 947.012(4) — 1 case

State v. Heyer, 496 N.W.2d 779 (Wis. Ct. App. 1993). “(1989-90), and making harassing phone calls, sec. 947.012(4), Stats. (1989-90), and arose from incidents in 1989.”

— Wis. Stat. § 947.012(l)(c) — 1 case

Wisconsin Prof'l Police Ass'n v. Pub. Serv. Comm'n, 555 N.W.2d 179 (Wis. Ct. App. 1996). “" In addition, under § 947.012(2)(d) , "Whoever does any of the following is subject to a Class B forfeiture: .”

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