It’s illegal to willfully delay or obstruct any public officer in the discharge or attempt to discharge any duty of his or her duties. A person doesn’t have to use physical force to be guilty of obstructing an officer. Words alone may be enough to support a conviction for obstructing an officer. This law does not prevent someone from recording the activity of law enforcement in a public area, as long as the recording activity does not delay or obstruct the law enforcement agent in his or her duties. This crime is also sometimes referred to as obstruction of justice.
Punishment
This crime is a misdemeanor. The maximum punishment in the county jail is one year. The maximum fine is $500.
Source: 21 O.S. § 540
Interrupting, Disrupting, or Interfering with an Emergency Telephone Call
This crime is commonly referred to as interfering with an emergency call, or interfering with a 911 call. It’s illegal to intentionally interrupt, disrupt, impede, or interfere with an emergency telephone call or intentionally prevent or hinder someone from placing an emergency telephone. A typical scenario for this charge is a domestic violence situation. It happens when the alleged victim calls 911, but the person they report as threatening them takes the phone away or hangs up the phone. In a situation like this, it’s best to not interfere with that call since doing so will cause you to be charged with an additional crime.
This crime is a misdemeanor. The maximum punishment in jail is one year. The maximum fine is $3,000.
Source: 21 O.S. § 1211.1
Destroying Evidence
This crime is commonly referred to as destruction of evidence or evidence tampering. It’s illegal to willfully destroy any book, paper, record, instrument in writing, or other matter or thing knowing that it is about to be produced in evidence in any trial, proceeding, inquiry, or investigation whatever, authorized by law with the intent to prevent that thing from being produced.
This crime is a misdemeanor. The maximum punishment in jail is one year. The maximum fine is $500.
Source: 21 O.S. § 454
Tampering with Security Equipment
It’s illegal for any unauthorized person to refocus, reposition, cover, manipulate, disconnect, or otherwise tamper with or disable a security or surveillance camera or security system.
This crime is a misdemeanor The maximum fine is $5,000.
Tampering with Security Equipment in the Commission of a Misdemeanor
It’s illegal to use, refocus, reposition, cover, manipulate, disconnect, or otherwise tamper with or disable a security or surveillance camera or security system for the purpose of avoiding detection when committing, attempting to commit, or aiding another person to commit or attempt to commit any misdemeanor.
This crime is a misdemeanor. The maximum punishment in jail is one year. The maximum fine is $5,000.
Tampering with Security Equipment in the Commission of a Felony
It’s illegal to use, refocus, reposition, cover, manipulate, disconnect, or otherwise tamper with or disable a security or surveillance camera or security system for the purpose of avoiding detection when committing, attempting to commit, or aiding another person to commit or attempt to commit any felony.
This crime is a felony. The maximum punishment in the Department of Corrections is five years. The maximum fine is $10,000.
Source: 21 O.S. § 1993
Current as of April 7, 2020.