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FLORIDA - A growing wave of fake 911 calls, known as swatting, is putting lives in danger and depleting critical emergency resources across the United States.
In response, Florida lawmakers have enacted a new law designed to hold those responsible for these hoaxes accountable.
Swatting involves making fraudulent emergency calls to prompt a large police response to a location where no threat exists.
These false alarms often target schools, homes, or public areas, putting innocent people in harm's way and forcing law enforcement to respond under high-pressure situations.
In one 2023 incident, Volusia County deputies were dispatched to a home after a 911 call claimed a toddler had drowned.
However, the call was a hoax. Volusia County Sheriff Michael Chitwood described the constant uncertainty that comes with such calls, saying that officers must always rush to the scene but remain alert for the possibility of a swatting.
Florida has seen a significant uptick in these incidents, especially in schools.
In the 2023-2024 school year, there were over 1,500 swatting calls in the state, a higher number than anywhere else in the country.
To address this, Florida’s new law increases penalties for those convicted of making false emergency reports that result in injury or death.
Offenders could face up to 15 years in prison, with repeat offenders receiving harsher sentences.
The law also mandates offenders pay restitution to victims and law enforcement agencies.