Show New State Law Prohibits Phone Offense PARK CITY CITY- Governor Calvin L L. L Rampton has signed into law a bill passed by the current Utah State Legislature Legislature Legislature Legi Legi- slature making It unlawful to 0 tou use u the telephone for the purpose purpose purpose pur pur- pose of harassing intimidating terrifying or otherwise of offending offend tend tend- ing In another person By passing this bill Utah joins an increasing number of states which have enacted legislation legis leRIs- lation to prohibit using the telephone telephone tel tel- ephone for annoyance calls And recently both Idaho and Anzona Arizona Arizona Ari Ari- zona have passed similar state laws If H. H Anderson manager of Park City for Mountain States Telephone described t the h e new law as extremely helpful in protecting our customers from the harassment and fear fea r i of sick telephone calls cans Though the telephone comI company com corn I pany has been highly successful I n using g modern electronic I equipment to identify Identity offenders law e enforcement agencies have been severely hampered in th the e past Prior to the passage passage e o othe of ef f the new state law only municipal municipal municipal pal ordinances specifically prohibited prohibited pro pro- annoyance calls The bill bm bill expressly states state that thata tha a person Is in violation of this law If the annoyance call is R either made or received within the state of Utah Further the law prohibits th the e use of obscene lewd or profane ape language any threat of harm to the persons or property of th the e Household called Cline and any disturbing dis farthing of the peace or of th the e right of privacy In that household household house house- hold whether or not conversation conversation conversa converse tion flan ensues False statements regarding injury inJury injury in in- Jury death or activities of the household called or any attempts to terrify intimidate harass or annoy are also pro pro- A first violation of the law constitutes a misdemeanor punIshable punishable pun pun- by up to a fine and six months in jail Subsequent violations are regarded as a felony with the offender subject subject subject sub sub- to in the state prison for up to three years and anda a fine up to 1000 |