What Are the Penalties for Making a False Police Report in Phoenix, Arizona?
July 30, 2024 | Arizona Law
Anyone can get facts confused or misremember exactly how an event happened, especially during a traumatic event in which someone is injured, like an auto accident or an assault.
Accidentally including errors in a police report won’t land you in legal hot water, but knowingly making a false report can. In Arizona, lying to the police is considered a serious offense that could result in criminal charges.
What Is a False Report?
As per Arizona law, it is illegal to knowingly make an unfounded, false, or fraudulent statement to the police or to purposefully misrepresent facts. Misleading an officer, whether during an interview or after an arrest, is a Class 1 misdemeanor in Arizona.
False reporting, in particular, typically refers to filing an unfounded or untrue police report, such as reporting a crime that did not happen. Other examples include the following:
- Knowingly exaggerating the value of stolen or damaged items
- Using a false name in a police report
- Lying about how many drinks you’ve had if pulled over for DUI
- Providing a false alibi for someone else
- Reporting a fire or other type of emergency that is not happening
Altogether, any action that is purposefully meant to interfere with an invention or mislead law enforcement officers is considered false reporting. It not only prevents the police from doing their jobs but also wastes resources and potentially places first responders in dangerous situations.
Arizona Penalties for False Reporting
The State of Arizona takes false reporting seriously. If found guilty, you can be penalized with fines up to $2,500 as well as hefty surcharges. You can also be sentenced to up to six months in prison, three years of probation, and a period of community service.
When false reporting charges are related to other crimes, the consequences can multiply. For example, if a person gets pulled over for DUI and lies to the officer about how many drinks they have had, law enforcement could add the false report to the list of charges.
Making a false report could also negatively impact your reputation. Having such a misdemeanor on your record could limit your career options, cause you to be rejected for a home loan, or interfere with acquiring a professional license. For those who are working toward U.S. citizenship, a misdemeanor could negatively impact their immigration status, too.
It’s also important to know that all of these penalties are more severe when the act of false reporting relates to terrorist activity, seeing as such matters are overseen by federal law enforcement agents. False reports involving terrorism could result in a prison sentence of seven to 20 years.
What To Do if Someone Makes a False Report About You
It is possible to sue another person for defamation of character if they make a false police report about you. For example, being accused of stealing or causing an accident that injured someone could have negative consequences in your personal and professional life.
To build a successful lawsuit, you must first be able to prove the report was false and that the person knew the information was false when they reported it. You must also show that the false report injured you by damaging your reputation or your livelihood.
Telling the Truth Is Still the Best Option
False reports are rare. One researcher found that of every 1,000 arrests, around 6.3% included false statements or reports.
But even then, it only takes one false report to ruin someone else’s reputation. If the police question you, answer truthfully to your best recollection. When in doubt, stay silent, and remember that embellishing or exaggerating the facts of an incident could hurt you more in the long run. As the old saying goes, “The truth is easier to remember than a lie.”
Contact the Arizona Personal Injury Lawyers at Curiel & Runion Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers Today
If you were injured in an accident in Phoenix, AZ, and need legal help, contact our Phoenix personal injury attorneys at Curiel & Runion Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule a free case review today.
Curiel & Runion Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers
1221 E Osborn Rd. Suite 201
Phoenix, AZ 85014
(602) 595-5559