Revised Code of Washington Chapter 70.85 — Emergency Party Line Telephone Calls—Limiting Telephone Communication in Hostage Situations

Washington · statute · Wash. Rev. Code ch. 70.85 · 8 active provisions

Wash. Rev. Code § 70.85.010

Definitions

"Party line" means a subscribers' line telephone circuit, consisting of two or more main telephone stations connected therewith, each station with a distinctive ring or telephone number."Emergency" means a situation in which property or human life are in jeopardy and the prompt summoning of aid is essential.

WashingtonEmergency Party Line Telephone Calls—Limiting Telephone Communication in Hostage Situationseffective

Wash. Rev. Code § 70.85.020

Refusal to yield line—Penalty

Any person who shall wilfully refuse to yield or surrender the use of a party line to another person for the purpose of permitting such other person to report a fire or summon police, medical or other aid in case of emergency, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor.

WashingtonEmergency Party Line Telephone Calls—Limiting Telephone Communication in Hostage Situationseffective

Public Safety & Emergency

Wash. Rev. Code § 70.85.030

Request for line on pretext of emergency—Penalty

Any person who shall ask for or request the use of a party line on pretext that an emergency exists, knowing that no emergency in fact exists, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor.

WashingtonEmergency Party Line Telephone Calls—Limiting Telephone Communication in Hostage Situationseffective

Public Safety & Emergency

Wash. Rev. Code § 70.85.040

Telephone directories—Notice

After September 9, 1953, every telephone directory thereafter distributed to the members of the general public shall contain a notice which explains this chapter, such notice to be printed in type which is no smaller than any other type on the same page and to be preceded by the word "warning": PROVIDED, That the provi…

WashingtonEmergency Party Line Telephone Calls—Limiting Telephone Communication in Hostage Situationseffective

Technology & Telecommunications

Wash. Rev. Code § 70.85.100

Authority to isolate telephones in barricade or hostage situation—Definitions

(1) The supervising law enforcement official having jurisdiction in a geographical area who reasonably believes that a person is barricaded, or one or more persons are holding another person or persons hostage within that area may order a telephone company employee designated pursuant to RCW 70.85.110 to arrange to cut…

WashingtonEmergency Party Line Telephone Calls—Limiting Telephone Communication in Hostage Situationseffective

Wash. Rev. Code § 70.85.110

Telephone companies to provide contacting information

The telephone company providing service within the geographical jurisdiction of a law enforcement unit shall inform law enforcement agencies of the address and telephone number of its security office or other designated office to provide all required assistance to law enforcement officials to carry out the purpose of R…

WashingtonEmergency Party Line Telephone Calls—Limiting Telephone Communication in Hostage Situationseffective

Technology & Telecommunications

Wash. Rev. Code § 70.85.120

Liability of telephone company

Good faith reliance on an order given under RCW 70.85.100 through 70.85.130 by a supervising law enforcement official shall constitute a complete defense to any civil or criminal action arising out of such ordered cutting, rerouting or diverting of telephone lines.

WashingtonEmergency Party Line Telephone Calls—Limiting Telephone Communication in Hostage Situationseffective

Technology & Telecommunications

Wash. Rev. Code § 70.85.130

Applicability

RCW 70.85.100 through 70.85.120 will govern notwithstanding the provisions of any other section of this chapter and notwithstanding the provisions of chapter 9.73 RCW.

WashingtonEmergency Party Line Telephone Calls—Limiting Telephone Communication in Hostage Situationseffective