HB2126: Telephone party lines; repeal of punishments for misuse.

HOUSE BILL NO. 2126
Offered January 10, 2007
Prefiled January 8, 2007
A BILL to amend and reenact § 18.2-426 of the Code of Virginia, and to repeal §§ 18.2-424 and 18.2-425 of the Code of Virginia, relating to the punishment for misuse of telephone party lines; penalty.
Patron-- Hugo
Committee Referral Pending

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1.  That §18.2-426 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 18.2-426. "Emergency call" and "emergency personnel" defined.

As used in this article:

"Emergency call" means a call to report a fire or summon police, or for medical aid or ambulance service, in a situation where human life or property is in jeopardy and the prompt summoning of aid is essential.

"Emergency personnel" means any persons, paid or volunteer, who receive calls for dispatch of police, fire, or emergency medical service personnel, and includes law-enforcement officers, firefighters, including special forest wardens designated pursuant to § 10.1-1135, and emergency medical service personnel.

"Telephone party line" means a subscribers' line circuit consisting of two or more main telephone stations connected therewith, each station with a distinctive ring or telephone number.

2.  That §§ 18.2-424 and 18.2-425 of the Code of Virginia are repealed.