I’ve had several inquires with respect to the new crimes defined by the legislature. I obtained the following information from the Legislature’s site.
New crimes – effective July 1, 2005
The law creates several new crimes and establishes their penalties.
For example, a crime of domestic assault by strangulation is added to the list of qualified domestic violence-related offenses. Enhanced penalties will apply to those who commit more than one qualified domestic assault within a certain time frame. (Art. 17, Sec. 8)
It will be a crime to knowingly provide false information to a police officer. The law also establishes a crime for falsely reporting police misconduct when a person knows the allegations are not true. (Art. 17, Sec. 30)
Anyone who interferes with ambulance service personnel providing emergency care will face the same penalties as those who obstruct peace officers and firefighters performing their duties. (Art. 17, Sec. 29)
People convicted of gasoline theft will face a 30-day suspension of their driver’s license. (Art. 17, Sec. 3)
It’s already a crime to flee from a police officer in a motor vehicle, it will also be a crime to flee in other ways to avoid arrest, detention, investigation, or to conceal or destroy potential evidence. (Art. 17, Sec. 28)
The definition of “public place” is expanded for purposes of the prostitution statutes to include a motor vehicle on a public street, alley, parking lot or driveway that connects a parking lot with a street or highway. (Art. 17, Sec. 23)
Identity theft is a growing concern and one way the Legislature responded was by establishing new crime of “phishing” which is the electronic use of false pretense to obtain identities through e-mail, Web sites or any other Internet communication. The crime carries a penalty of up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine. (Art. 17, Sec. 35)
The harassment and stalking crime is expanded to include monitoring with the use of technology. (Art. 17, Sec. 46)