HARRISBURG, Pa. — A group of Pennsylvania lawmakers today announced a plan to address "swatting" incidents in the Commonwealth.
Swatting is when a person places a hoax 911 call alleging a hostage situation or other serious threat. Not knowing swatting calls are hoaxes, law enforcement officers must take them seriously and often respond with a large police presence, including crisis response teams, or SWAT teams, hence the term swatting.
Swatting is already illegal, but to further criminalize the behavior, a group of House Republicans including Reps. Ryan Mackenzie (R-Lehigh), Craig Williams (R-Delaware/Chester), Dawn Keefer (R-York) and Jim Rigby (R-Cambria/Somerset) plan to introduce a series of bills to address the issue.
One bill would make it a felony offense if anyone is injured while responding to a call.
“The very nature of these swatting incidents creates the high risk that violence will occur and someone answering the emergency call may get hurt,” said Mackenzie. “My bill would ensure significant criminal penalties are in place to serve as a deterrent to anyone thinking about taking part in this malicious and dangerous conduct.”
Williams' bill would help victims of swatting calls recoup some of the loss from being involved in such a situation.
“Swatting inflicts serious damage on individuals and property," Williams said. "My legislation grants victims the right to sue individuals making false reports. It allows for the recovery of damages from these malicious acts, ensuring victims access restitution directly from those responsible.”
A third bill, sponsored by Keefer, would allow courts to make the perpetrators of swatting calls pay the costs associated with such calls, such as wages or other compensation of any responder for time spent responding, for prosecuting the offender and for costs of supplies and equipment used in responding to the swatting call.
“The blue line is already stretched thin enough and we cannot afford to have police officers chasing phantom calls and exhausting valuable resources at the taxpayers’ expense,” Keefer said. “My bill would hold those who make these malicious hoax calls financially liable.”
Rigby’s legislation would grant civil immunity to officers who respond to a swatting call.
“As a former police chief, I’ve been on calls of this nature and seen law enforcement in action,” Rigby added. “These ‘swatters’ are toying with officers’ passion to answer the call and wasting time and money in search of a cheap thrill that actually isn’t cheap, as well as potentially putting lives at risk.”
Legislators say the number of these types of calls is on the rise; law enforcement in York County responded to a swatting call at a Walmart earlier this month.
The Lower Allen Township Director of Public Safety David Holl experienced firsthand when the Capital City Mall was swatted last September.
"We see them around us, but the one that was the largest one we have seen was the mall incident," Holl said.
That specific incident led to an evacuation of the mall and prompted a response from several agencies.
"It’s a major incident and it’s extremely disruptive not just to public safety and all of the disciplines," Holl said. "It's also extremely alarming and disruptive to the operations of the businesses."
Swatting can happen to anyone and anywhere. Less than a month after the Capital City Mall incident, two elementary schools in Harrisburg were swatted. Holl says these incidents can cost thousands of dollars.
"There's a major outlay of funds from the response," he said. "That goes back to the taxpayers who are paying for these services."
It's important to note that those who are found guilty of swatting now can still face charges. These bills would just increase the penalties.
"Our law enforcement, our prosecutors, and even the bench have one more tool in their tool belt to help attack this type of activity," Rep. Keefer said.
Holl says he hopes these laws have a noticeable impact.
"I think anything that’s introduced that can help reduce the number of, or the seriousness of, a swatting call or any harassment like that would be a benefit," Holl said.