SILENT ABUSIVE CALL/ELECTR COMM TO 911 SERVICETexas Penal Code (PC) § 42.061(d)

“SILENT ABUSIVE CALL/ELECTR COMM TO 911 SERVICE” stands for Silent or Abusive Calls or Messages to 9-1-1, a Class B misdemeanor under Texas PC § 42.061(d).

Texas Penal Code § 42.061 addresses misuse of the 9-1-1 system. A person commits the offense by making a call to a 9-1-1 service, or requesting 9-1-1 service using an electronic communications device, when there is no emergency, and knowingly or intentionally remaining silent or making abusive or harassing statements to the answering-point employee. The statute also reaches a person who knowingly permits a telephone or other electronic communications device under the person's control to be used by another to commit the offense. '9-1-1 service' and 'electronic communications device' carry the meanings assigned by Chapter 771 of the Texas Health and Safety Code. The core elements are the absence of an actual emergency plus the knowing or intentional silence or abuse; a genuine emergency call is outside the statute. Subsection (d), cited in the court record, is the classification provision.

44% ended without a conviction, 7% in deferred adjudication and 48% in a conviction.

How 124 resolved SILENT ABUSIVE CALL/ELECTR COMM TO 911 SERVICE charges filed 2019–2023 ended, across 12 counties (Bastrop, Bell, Brazoria, Collin, Comal, Dallas, Denton, FortBend, Galveston, Hays, Travis, Williamson):

Outcome is the final disposition recorded on the charge. “Other” (1) covers waived counts, bond forfeitures, transfers and unrecorded outcomes. Bexar County records disposition dates but not outcomes, so it counts toward time-to-disposition only. Tarrant County criminal records are not in this dataset.

Typically about 7 months: half of resolved cases closed within 220 days of filing.

Across 124 resolved SILENT ABUSIVE CALL/ELECTR COMM TO 911 SERVICE charges filed 2019–2023, the median time from filing to disposition was 220 days. The middle half took between 56 and 460 days.

Time depends on the county's docket, whether the case is set for trial, and plea negotiations.

Up to 180 days in county jail and a fine up to $2,000.

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

The median bail is $2,000, and 11% of defendants were released on a personal bond.

Across 1,711 Texas bail settings for this charge (15 counties, Apr 2022 – Jun 2025), the median cash or surety bond was $2,000 (middle half: $1,000 – $3,500). 11% of defendants were released on a personal bond, and bail was denied in 32 cases. When this was the only charge at booking (786 records), the median was $1,500 and 17% 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.