Do you support these anti-swatting proposals?

by L.A. Times Posted 2013/01/24 16:27:36

Related Topics: Law Enforcement, Police, Legislators, Tom Cruise, Celebrity, Emergency, Justin Bieber, Los Angeles, Justin, Time, Ted, Cruise, Enforcement

Read More

411 votes
Read all 216 opinions
Lightning Report View Results and Demographics + View Demographics

Loading Demographics... Click an icon to see demographic results Display unknown and private
	Yes	263 votes	64%
	No	148 votes	36%

Alarmed that pranksters have called 911 to report false emergencies at the homes of celebrities including Justin Bieber and Tom Cruise, two Southern California legislators have proposed laws to get tougher with anyone engaged in "swatting."

A bill announced Wednesday by state Sen. Ted Lieu (D-Torrance) would allow longer sentences for and greater restitution from those convicted of making false reports to the police. Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca asked for the measure.

"The recent spate of phony reports to law enforcement officials that the home of an actor or singer is being robbed or held hostage is dangerous, and it's only a matter of time before there's a tragic accident," said Lieu.

Add a comment above

RJeffreySavlov 2013/01/24 21:59:58

Yes

+14
I hate to say it but I partially agree with the proposal but it should apply to any prank 911 calls not just celebrities. It is a danger at any level and leaves law enforcement shorthanded by making it necessary to answer and investigate bogus calls.
>> See Replies

More polls by L.A. Times

Scrappyang 2013/01/31 15:15:34

Yes

Yes, if it includes ALL prank calls to 911. It isn't a "fun" system to play with. Part of the sentence should be to do some role playing showing how emergency personel answering a false call can cost one of their loved ones or even themselves their lifes.

reply
trap flapper 2013/01/30 14:12:05

Yes

Somethings just ain't funny and this is one example....punishment should be swift and harsh.....However, I might add I think celebrities and persons of renown should be more careful of what they put out to the public.....tweeting BS about personal issues, airing all "dirty laundry" to questionable sources/media outlets should probably be curtailed..

reply
sneekyfoot 2013/01/30 03:34:47

Yes

If I caught them doing that I would sentence them to a week handcuffed to the front of a on duty police car . I could ask them how much they like emergencys after that.

reply
seadog6608PWCM 2013/01/29 20:38:40
Broken 2013/01/29 20:12:37

Yes

I think it should apply to any person, not just when the victim is one of the 1%.

reply
SUPREME COSMIC POWER, (SCOPO) 2013/01/29 19:51:32

Yes

911 should not be turned into pranksters' joyride!

reply
nerak611 2013/01/29 05:38:57

Yes

Yes, it's not a game. Someone may actually get hurt or killed some day.

reply
MayaDirectioner 2013/01/29 01:00:29

Yes

Yep. It should apply to all prank callers, like RJeffreySavlov said.
I've accidentally called 911 like4 times, and it was not pretty >.<

reply
Bibliophilic 2013/01/28 18:38:39 (edited)

Yes

YES, because it is a waste of taxpayer money and a distraction from real crimes.

reply
OneLastWord 2013/01/28 17:35:09
Runaway 2013/01/28 15:45:49

No

+1
There are plenty of laws on the books already that deal with making false statements to police. Enforce those.

It's just like gun control laws. The current laws are only enforced haphazardly, we don't need more laws. We need uniform enforcement of existing laws.

reply
darthtbone 2013/01/28 12:17:18

Yes

I guess liberals are going to have to find another way to harass conservative bloggers.

reply
kiote1963 2013/01/28 07:20:34

Yes

It's the whole boy who cried wolf scenario.

reply
Depsycho 2013/01/28 06:19:23

Yes

It shouldn't be limited to just celebrity-related prank calls though...

It should be all of them. Every single one. You might think it's funny as a kid or whatever, but when you're screwing with the safety of the public, it's no joke.

The Police and other emergency services are suffering as it is, from being short-handed to just outright not having the right people in the right positions.

How would you like to be the one responsible for getting a unit out that could have stopped a robbery from occurring, if he wasn't too busy responding to a false call?

Shame on anyone who thinks this is funny.

reply
NYCbrit 2013/01/28 05:30:55

Yes

A terrible misdirection of emergency responders.

reply
JeffDeWitt 2013/01/28 04:53:38

Yes

Why isn't this against the law already?

reply
NYCbrit to JeffDeWitt 2013/01/28 05:29:37

It is, they just want sentences increased and restitution amounts raised.

reply
JeffDeWitt to NYCbrit 2013/01/28 22:32:02

+1
If they are actually enforcing the law as it is and people are still doing this then harsher punishment seems fair.

reply
NYCbrit to JeffDeWitt 2013/01/29 18:09:41

Absolutely agree w/you.

reply
fortycal_sig 2013/01/28 01:36:44

Yes

'Course, as usual, celebrity justice is somewhat different from the run-of-the-mill variety.

reply
JeffDeWitt to fortyca... 2013/01/28 04:53:21

If you read the article this bill applies to anyone filing a false report, doesn't matter if there is a celebrity involved or not.

reply
fortyca... to JeffDeWitt 2013/01/28 05:08:17

+1
Hopefully. What I was really thinking of there was that it seemed like it took miffed celebrities to get this rolling.

reply
JeffDeWitt to fortyca... 2013/01/28 05:11:17

+2
I'm not sure if it was so much the miffed celebrities as it was the publicity from the cops being called to their houses.

But this happens to other people too, and it SHOULD be against the law. In fact I find it hard to believe it's not already.

reply
fortyca... to JeffDeWitt 2013/01/28 06:31:36

> hard to believe it's not already
No kidding!

reply
mae 2013/01/27 03:05:30 (edited)

Yes

Yes. How many petty crimes were simultaneously commited across LA from where these feined crimes were reported to be happening? Distract, then act. Not a new trick, and costly as heck. Hope these bills pass, and soon.

reply
ronbo 2013/01/27 01:53:44

Yes

As much as I hate having to enact more laws, this is probably necessary. When you have people making bogus calls as a prank or to use law enforcement to get back at someone they are mad at or don,t like, this can and will lead to tragedy.

reply
Darr247 2013/01/26 21:49:37

Yes

Only in californication could filing a false police report not already be against the law.

reply
Ahzz to Darr247 2013/01/26 22:55:51

+3
It's already illegal to make a false report. The difference proposed is going from a fine to getting jail time for making a false report.

Please read before commenting.

reply
Bill 2013/01/26 17:23:27

Yes

+1
Goes without saying.

reply
RubenRibnik 2013/01/26 17:23:13

Yes

+1
there is a law saying to make a false report is a crime. Hell common sense, you could cause the death of an innocent person who actually needs the police in another area, or, some cop may become trigger happy and make a fatal mistake..

reply
graham.noble.1232 2013/01/26 14:58:44
All American 2013/01/26 14:12:25 (edited)

Yes

+2
I don't know if they really need new laws, just enforce the ones already on the books. I think the perp should be publicly humiliated, made to pay all costs associated with it and a fine and serve jail time. This should be strictly enforced.

reply
Beagle Mom 2013/01/26 10:55:22

Yes

+1
There have also been at least 3 conservative bloggers who were victims of swatting. How terrifying it must be to have police invade your home thinking you are the criminal.

reply
kimmie 2013/01/26 08:50:19 (edited)

Yes

I support it ! Hey what about those pranksters continuously calling restaurants or other businesses who are doing their job trying food on the table to feed their families or themselves and trying to pay the bills we should get a law for that 2 other then those crazy ass pranksters who make false reports ! People are crazy nowadays .

reply
Jaiheena Star 2013/01/26 05:09:47

Yes

Yep.

reply
kim 2013/01/26 02:00:43

Yes

+1
Waisting time money and resources gir practical jokes of this nature need ti stop.

reply
kurtis morin 2013/01/26 01:15:27

Yes

+1
They're taking police officers away from people that really need there help.

reply
lipton7.62 2013/01/26 00:14:16

Yes

+1
Yes they need to verify these calls somehow and do a " Locate" on the calls because this could be used to busy the system as a diversion away from a more nefarious crime.

reply
Jesferkicks 2013/01/25 20:19:12

Yes

+2
Definitely, we all pay for these idiots' pranks. Swat is NOT cheap! The police accounting departments should figure out the cost of these responses, triple it and charge it to the offenders. If they are kids, oh well, parents open your wallets. If they are poor, deductions should be taken from any assistance they receive and taken from any income tax returns they might enjoy until fine is fully paid.

reply
lee 2013/01/25 18:38:57