FALSE ALARM OR REPORT

Texas Penal Code § 42.06 defines false alarm or report. The State must prove the accused knowingly initiated, communicated, or circulated a report of a present, past, or future bombing, fire, offense, or other emergency that the accused knew was false or baseless, and that would ordinarily cause action by an official or volunteer agency organized to deal with emergencies, place a person in fear of imminent serious bodily injury, or prevent or interrupt the occupation of a building, room, place of assembly, place to which the public has access, or a mode of conveyance such as an aircraft or automobile. This filing is the base Class A misdemeanor form under § 42.06(b); the same subsection grades false reports involving primary or secondary schools, institutions of higher education, or public communications, transportation, utilities, and other public services as a felony.

Ranges are the statutory maximums for the level; enhancements, prior convictions and plea agreements change what is actually imposed.

Across 1,713 Texas bail settings for this charge (17 counties, Apr 2022 – Jun 2025), the median cash or surety bond was $2,500 (middle half: $1,500 – $5,000). 14% of defendants were released on a personal bond, and bail was denied in 31 cases. When this was the only charge at booking (741 records), the median was $2,000 and 20% got a personal bond.

Showing the 5 counties with the most records; use the selector for any county with at least 30. Per-charge bond settings on original magistrations, from Texas OCA bail reporting under SB 6. Bail is set case by case — these are statistics, not a prediction.