ARS 13-2907: False Reporting
The complete text of A.R.S. § 13-2907 on false reporting, what the State has to prove, and the sentencing range, with a violation charged as a class 6 felony or a class 1 misdemeanor and exposure reaching up to 2 years in prison.
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What the State Must Prove Under § 13-2907
A.R.S. § 13-2907 is the Arizona statute on false reporting. The statute sets out 3 ways the offense can be committed. A violation is a class 6 felony or a class 1 misdemeanor, depending on the paragraph charged and what the State can prove. The maximum exposure is 2 years in prison.
A. A person commits false reporting by initiating or circulating a report of a bombing, fire or other emergency knowing that such report is false and intending:
- That it will cause action of any sort by an official or volunteer agency organized to deal with emergencies; or
- That it will place a person in fear of imminent serious physical injury; or
- That it will prevent or interrupt the occupation of any building, room, place of assembly, public place or means of transportation.
The State must prove every element of the paragraph it actually charged, beyond a reasonable doubt. Which paragraph appears on the complaint decides what the case is about, and it is the first thing to check.
Penalties for a § 13-2907 Conviction
| Class | Mitigated | Minimum | Presumptive | Maximum | Aggravated |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class 6 felony | 4 months | 6 months | 1 year | 1.5 years | 2 years |
| Class | Maximum jail | Maximum fine |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 misdemeanor | 6 months | $2,500 |
Felony ranges are set by A.R.S. § 13-702(D) and apply to a first felony conviction that is not dangerous and not repetitive. A dangerous offense (§ 13-704), a repetitive offense (§ 13-703) or a dangerous crime against children (§ 13-705) carries a longer range, and some carry mandatory prison with no probation. Misdemeanor maximums come from §§ 13-707 and 13-802; surcharges are added on top of every fine.
Full Text of A.R.S. § 13-2907
A. A person commits false reporting by initiating or circulating a report of a bombing, fire or other emergency knowing that such report is false and intending:
1. That it will cause action of any sort by an official or volunteer agency organized to deal with emergencies; or
2. That it will place a person in fear of imminent serious physical injury; or
3. That it will prevent or interrupt the occupation of any building, room, place of assembly, public place or means of transportation.
B. A person commits false reporting by initiating a report of a serious offense involving an educational institution or any place used for worship or for religious services knowing that such report is false and intending that it will cause an emergency response.
C. A person who commits a violation of this section that results in an emergency response or investigation of false reporting and who is convicted of a violation of this section is liable for the expenses that are incurred incident to the emergency response or the investigation of the commission of false reporting, except that if the person is a juvenile who is adjudicated delinquent of a violation of this section, the court may order the juvenile to pay the expenses incurred under this subsection as restitution. The expenses are a debt of the person. The public agency, for profit entity or not-for-profit entity that incurred the expenses may collect the debt proportionally. The liability that is imposed under this subsection is in addition to any other liability that may be imposed.
D. A violation of subsection A of this section is a class 1 misdemeanor, except that a second or subsequent violation is a class 6 felony. A violation of subsection B of this section is a class 6 felony.
E. For the purposes of this section:
1. “Educational institution” means any of the following:
(a) A public school as defined in section 15-101.
(b) A private school that provides instruction to pupils in any combination of kindergarten programs and grades one through twelve.
(c) A community college as defined in section 15-1401.
(d) A university that is under the jurisdiction of the Arizona board of regents.
(e) A private postsecondary institution that is licensed under title 32, chapter 30, article 2.
(f) A college in this state that is owned, operated or chartered by a federally recognized Native American tribe on the tribe’s own Indian reservation.
2. “Emergency response” means an immediate response by a law enforcement agency.
3. “Expenses” means any reasonable costs that are directly incurred by a public agency, for profit entity or not-for-profit entity that makes an appropriate emergency response to an incident or an investigation of the commission of false reporting. Expenses includes the costs of providing police, fire fighting, rescue and emergency medical services at the scene of an incident and the salaries of the persons who respond to the incident. Expenses does not include any charges that are assessed by an ambulance service that is regulated pursuant to title 36, chapter 21.1, article 2.
4. “Public agency” means this state, any city, county, municipal corporation or district, any Arizona federally recognized Native American tribe or any other public authority that is located in whole or in part in this state and that provides police, fire fighting, medical or other emergency services.
5. “Serious offense” has the same meaning as provided in section 13-706.
Source: Arizona Revised Statutes § 13-2907, Arizona Legislative Council revision of 09/19/25. Read the official text on azleg.gov. Statutes change; verify the current version before relying on it.
Our Guides on This Charge
Written by our defense team on how these cases run in Arizona courts.
Related Statutes in Chapter 29 — Offenses Against Public Order
- A.R.S. § 13-2907.01 — False reporting to law enforcement agencies
- A.R.S. § 13-2907.02 — False reporting of child abuse or neglect
- A.R.S. § 13-2907.03 — False reporting of sexual assault involving a spouse
- A.R.S. § 13-2907.04 — False reporting of vulnerable adult abuse
- A.R.S. § 13-2907.05 — False reporting of an offense involving corrections or probation employees
- A.R.S. § 13-2906 — Obstructing a highway or other public thoroughfare
- A.R.S. § 13-2908 — Criminal nuisance
- A.R.S. § 13-2905 — Loitering
How Tamou Law Group Defends § 13-2907 Cases
A § 13-2907 case is decided by the paragraph the State charged, not by the statute as a whole. We start with the charging document and the disclosure, identify which subsection the prosecutor has to prove, and test whether the evidence actually reaches every element of it. Where the class turns on a fact such as value, an alleged injury, a prior conviction or the identity of the person involved, that fact is frequently the difference between a class 6 felony and something far less serious, and it is where these cases are won.
We handle false reporting cases across Maricopa County and statewide, from our Scottsdale and Phoenix offices. Call 623-321-4699 any time, or read the statute in full above before you speak to anyone about the case.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is A.R.S. § 13-2907?
A.R.S. § 13-2907 is the Arizona statute on false reporting. A violation is a class 6 felony or a class 1 misdemeanor, and which class applies depends on the paragraph charged and the facts the State can prove.
Is a violation of § 13-2907 a felony in Arizona?
It can be. Under the statute a violation is a class 6 felony or a class 1 misdemeanor, so the exposure reaches up to 2 years in prison. The paragraph charged and the facts decide which class applies.
What is the sentence for a class 6 felony in Arizona?
For a first felony conviction that is not dangerous or repetitive, A.R.S. 13-702(D) sets a class 6 felony at 4 months to 2 years, with a presumptive term of 1 year. Dangerous, repetitive and dangerous-crimes-against-children sentencing under 13-703, 13-704 and 13-705 runs longer.
What is the maximum penalty for a class 1 misdemeanor?
A.R.S. 13-707 caps jail at 6 months for a class 1 misdemeanor and A.R.S. 13-802 caps the fine at $2,500, before surcharges. A judge may also impose probation and other conditions.
Where can I read the official text of § 13-2907?
The Arizona Legislature publishes it at azleg.gov, in the revision dated 09/19/25. The complete text is reproduced on this page, and every Arizona criminal statute is searchable on our Arizona Criminal Code index.
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