State considering tougher penalties for ‘swatting’ false alarms

TRENTON  (AP) — A New Jersey legislative committee is considering tougher penalties for those who call authorities with fake reports of attacks, bombs or other threats.

Penalties for certain false public alarms would be punishable by up to 10 years in state prison.

The legislation being considered Monday is a response to incidents of "swatting" where people prank-call authorities to try to get SWAT teams to respond.

In one twist, a lawmaker who has been pushing for the law was a victim of swatting himself last month.

Assemblyman Paul Moriarity, a Democrat, from Washington Township in South Jersey, has intensified his push for the law since then.

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