Pennsylvania lawmakers seek tougher swatting bill, making hoax callers pay

DETAILS OF OUR IMPACT DAY. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. HAPPY FRIDAY. JUST SIX DAYS AWAY FROM CHRISTMAS. WHO’S COUNTING? REGINA ON. I’M CAITLIN SMITH, JOINED BY METEOROLOGIST. IT IS COMING UP FAST. YEAH. GOT TO GET THROUGH TODAY. AND NOT A GOOD DAY TO GO OUT AND DO SOME SHOPPING. I MEAN YOU’RE GOING TO BE DEALING WITH SOME WINDS LATER TODAY. SO I HAD IT MARKED AS FAIR TODAY. BUT RIGHT NOW IT IS WET OUT THERE. AND MOST LOCATIONS GOT A LITTLE BIT OF A BREAK. BUT WE DO HAVE A LINE OF PRETTY STRONG RAIN. YOU CAN SEE OFF TO THE WEST, MOVING INTO MIFFLIN, JUNIATA COUNTY AND FRANKLIN COUNTY HERE SHORTLY. WITH THIS LINE, YOU COULD EXPERIENCE SOME DAMAGING WIND GUSTS. ALSO UP. COULD HEAR SOME THUNDER AND ALSO BRIEF HEAVY DOWNPOURS. THIS IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO PUSH OFF TO THE EAST. TEMPERATURES ARE VERY MILD RIGHT NOW AS YOU JUST SAW IN THE MID TO UPPER 50S. SO IT MAY FEEL MILD AS YOU STEP OUT THIS MORNING. BUT WHEN YOU COME HOME LATER THIS EVENING, IT’S GOING TO FEEL MUCH COLDER. WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 A.M. AND THAT’S BECAUSE WE COULD SEE WIND GUSTS CLOSE TO 50MPH AT TIMES. YOU CAN SEE RIGHT NOW 44 MILE PER HOUR WINDS THERE IN CHAMBERSBURG, 43 IN HARRISBURG, 30 IN SELINSGROVE. WIND GUSTS. TODAY WE MAY GET A LITTLE BIT OF A LULL HERE LATER THIS MORNING AFTER THE FRONT PUSHES THROUGH, BUT THEN THEY RAMP BACK UP TO THE 40S, EVEN CLOSE TO 50 LATER THIS AFTERNOON INTO THE EVENING. YOUR 12 HOUR FORECAST CALLS FOR THOSE 50S TO DROP INTO THE 40S BEFORE LUNCHTIME, AND WE’LL CONTINUE TO FALL. WE’RE LOOKING AT 30 THIS AFTERNOON AS THE KIDS ARE COMING HOME FROM SCHOOL. SO MOMS PARENTS, JUST KEEP THAT IN MIND. IT MAY FEEL MILD OUT THERE EARLY, BUT LATER WHEN THEY’RE COMING HOME, IT’S GOING TO FEEL MUCH COLDER WITH THE COAT. ABSOLUTELY. YES. WE’RE GOING TO GET HIT WITH EVERYTHING TODAY. EVERYTHING. ALL SEASONS. YEAH. OH MY GOODNESS. ALL RIGHT. IT IS 502 THOUGH ON YOUR FRIDAY MORNING. IF YOU’RE HEADING OUT RIGHT NOW IT’S LOOKING GOOD FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE COUNTIES. JUST TAKE IT EASY OUT THERE. BECAUSE I DID SEE ON MY DRIVE A GOOD AMOUNT OF RAIN. SO THAT COULD BE IMPACTING YOU ON YOUR COMMUTE RIGHT NOW THE SOUTH BRIDGE HERE, YOU CAN SEE THOSE WET ROADS THERE ON I-83 THERE IN DAUPHIN COUNTY, BUT TRAFFIC FLOWING JUST FINE. NO ISSUES THERE. HERE’S YOUR OUTBOUND OUTBOUND DRIVE TIMES FOR YOU IN HARRISBURG TO CAMP HILL. FIVE MINUTES THERE, 22 TO CARLISLE AND A 15 MINUTE DRIVE TO HERSHEY. WE’LL HAVE ANOTHER UPDATE FOR YOU IN ABOUT FIVE MINUTES. LET’S CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT THE ROADS, BECAUSE STARTING TODAY, THE PENNSYLVANIA TURNPIKE IS GETTING READY FOR A BUSY HOLIDAY TRAVEL PERIOD. THE TURNPIKE EXPECTS MORE THAN 7 MILLION VEHICLES BETWEEN TODAY AND JANUARY 1ST. ABOUT 675,000 ARE EXPECTED ON THE TURNPIKE JUST TODAY. TO PUT THAT IN PERSPECTIVE, THAT’S OVER 100,000 MORE VEHICLES THAN YOUR AVERAGE DAY ON THE TURNPIKE. THE COMMISSION SAYS ALL CONSTRUCTION AND ROAD WORK WILL BE PUT ON HOLD THROUGH THE NEW YEAR, JANUARY 1ST, TO KEEP AS MANY LANES OPEN AS POSSIBLE. THE COMMISSION ALSO SAYS THAT MORE PERSONNEL WILL BE ON THAT ROADWAY, ALONG WITH STATE POLICE, TO KEEP YOU SAFE. AN E-BIKE RIDER WAS SERIOUSLY HURT AFTER BEING HIT BY A TRUCK IN LANCASTER. THE CRASH HAPPENED AT THE INTERSECTION OF LIME AND ORANGE STREETS AROUND 1030 YESTERDAY MORNING. A WHITE TRUCK HIT THE BIKE AS IT TURNED, AND THIS IS VIDEO CAUGHT ON CAMERA BY A NEARBY DRIVER. I’VE BEEN HIT ABOUT SEVEN TIMES. WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THESE ELECTRIC BIKES IN THE CITY. IT’S JUST IT WAS BOUND TO HAPPEN. AND THE BIKE RIDER WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL WITH LIFE THREATENING INJURIES. POLICE SAY THE INVESTIGATION CONTINUES AND THEY HAVE NOT DETERMINED WHO WAS AT FAULT. FOLLOWING A GRAND JURY INVESTIGATION, TWO PEOPLE ARE NOW IN PRISON CHARGED WITH MURDERING A MAN MORE THAN FIVE YEARS AGO IN CARLISLE IN CUMBERLAND COUNTY. PAUL LANEY WAS SHOT AND KILLED IN JULY OF 2020 INSIDE HIS CAR. HIS PASSENGER WAS ALSO SHOT AND TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL. COURT DOCUMENTS SAY LANEY WAS ON A LIVE STREAM 16 AND IN THAT LIVE STREAM, THEY SAY THAT LANEY SHARED HIS EXACT LOCATION, THAT HE WAS AT THE HAYNES STANFIELD AMERICAN LEGION. WELL, INVESTIGATORS SAY ONE OF THE SUSPECTS, RASHEEDA MOBLEY, CONFRONTED HIM AND THEN TEXTED AND CALLED THE OTHER SUSPECT, WARREN BENNETT, THE SECOND BEFORE MEETING HIM IN PERSON. BENNETT DID WAIT OUTSIDE THE AREA OF THE LEGION IN THE VICINITY OF THE LEGION. THE GRAND JURY FOUND THAT BENNETT ULTIMATELY APPROACHED LANEY’S VEHICLE AND FIRED SHOTS FROM A NINE MILLIMETER HANDGUN INTO THE VEHICLE, WITH THE INTENT TO KILL PAUL LANEY. MOBLEY AND BENNETT NOW FACE LIFETIME SENTENCES. MOBLEY IS ALSO CHARGED WITH LYING TO THE GRAND JURY. A FORMER LANCASTER CITY POLICE OFFICER WAS SENTENCED AFTER HE WAS FOUND GUILTY OF RAPING AND SEXUALLY ASSAULTING THREE UNDERAGE GIRLS. 56 YEAR-OLD ANDREW SELBY WAS SENTENCED YESTERDAY TO 22.5 TO 57 YEARS IN PRISON. INVESTIGATORS SAY SELBY SEXUALLY ASSAULTED VICTIMS OF RAPE CASES THAT HE WAS ASSIGNED TO WHILE HE WAS AN OFFICER IN THE LATE 90S. SELBY WAS CONVICTED AT TRIAL IN JUNE. IN HANDING DOWN THE SENTENCE, THE JUDGE TOLD SELBY THAT HIS ACTIONS DECADES AGO WERE, QUOTE, INSIDIOUS, AND THE JUDGE WENT ON TO SAY, QUOTE, THE VIOLATION OF THE RULE OF LAW THAT YOU SWORE TO UPHOLD IS REPREHENSIBLE. THIS MORNING, WE ARE HEARING FROM CONCERNED RESIDENTS ABOUT A COMPOST FIRE THAT IS STILL BURNING IN PENN TOWNSHIP IN LANCASTER COUNTY. THAT’S NEAR MANHEIM. THIS STARTED AT A&M COMPOST ON DECEMBER 6TH. MORE THAN A WEEK LATER, CREWS WERE CALLED BACK TO FIGHT ANOTHER FIRE THERE. THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION SERVED A&M A COMPLIANCE ORDER THIS WEEK, AFTER IT SAID THE COMPANY FAILED TO KEEP THAT FIRE FROM RESTARTING. IT SAYS A&M NOW MUST STOP TAKING ANY TRASH OR COMPOST. ALSO WORK. IT JUST SMELLS LIKE BURNT RUBBISH, LIKE WASTE BURNT, PROBABLY LIKE BURNT RUBBER, ALMOST ISH. YEAH. BURNT WIRES MAYBE. AND THE PENRYN FIRE CHIEF SAYS THE FIRE INVOLVED MORE THAN 100,000FT OF COMPOST MATERIAL. IN LANCASTER, RESIDENTS GOT THE CHANCE TO MEET WITH THE THREE CANDIDATES FOR POLICE CHIEF. THE CANDIDATES ARE EASTON MCDONALD, COMING FROM VIRGINIA, MIRTHA RAMOS COMING FROM GEORGIA, AND BRIAN WISKOSKI, THE CURRENT CHIEF OF POLICE IN WEST LAMPETER TOWNSHIP. WE DID SPEAK WITH THE CANDIDATES LAST NIGHT ABOUT WHAT MESSAGE THEY HOPED RESIDENTS WALKED AWAY WITH. BEING FAIR. BEING CONSISTENT. BEING COMPASSIONATE BOTH FROM A LEADERSHIP STANDPOINT AND FROM FROM A POLICING STANDPOINT. I WOULD LIKE THEM TO KNOW THAT I AM DEFINITELY HERE TO SERVE THEM. I WANT TO KNOW WHAT’S WORKING FOR THEM AND WHAT’S NOT WORKING FOR THEM, AND I WANT THEM TO KNOW THAT I’M GOING TO BE ACCESSIBLE. I’M HERE FOR THEM. I THINK I WOULD WANT THEM TO KNOW THAT I’M A SERVANT LEADER, AND THAT I FOCUS ON MENTORSHIP, EMPOWERMENT AND COMMUNICATION. I EMPHASIZED A TEAMWORK, PHILOSOPHY AND ACCOUNTABILITY. MAYOR ELECT JAMIE ARROYO SAYS HE PLANS TO PICK A NEW CHIEF SHORTLY AFTER HIS INAUGURATION, AND IT’S 507 NOW. AND LET’S TAKE A LOOK OUTSIDE. IF WE CAN HEAR FROM OUR YORK SKYCAM ON THIS BEAUTIFUL FRIDAY. IT’S BEAUTIFUL. REGARDLESS, MARY ELLEN, BECAUSE IT’S FRIDAY, BUT IT IS DEFINITELY RAINY OUT THERE. IT’S AN IMPACT DAY TODAY. THAT’S RIGHT. IT’S AN IMPACT DAY BECAUSE WE DO EXPECT SOME STRONG WINDS. ALREADY SEEING SOME IMPRESSIVE WIND GUSTS AT THIS HOUR. THIS WIND ADVISORY GOES INTO EFFECT OR IS IN EFFECT NOW UNTIL 1 A.M. TONIGHT. FOR THE ENTIRE AREA. CHECK OUT SOME OF THESE WIND GUSTS. WE’RE LOOKING AT 44 MILE PER HOUR WIND GUSTS IN CHAMBERSBURG, 43 IN HARRISBURG, 30 IN SELINSGROVE. I’VE SEEN SOME WIND GUSTS CLOSE TO 35MPH. THEY’LL CONTINUE PRETTY STRONG AS THE COLD FRONT COMES THROUGH AS HIGH AS EVEN CLOSE TO 45 TO 50 MILE PER HOUR WIND GUSTS. THEN THEY COME DOWN A LITTLE BIT FOR LATER ONCE THE FRONT MOVES THROUGH, BUT THEN THE PRESSURE GRADIENT TIGHTENS AS WE GET INTO THE AFTERNOON, AND YOU CAN SEE THEM RAMPING BACK UP CLOSE TO 45 TO 50MPH, AND THEN THEY’LL START TO RELAX AS WE HEAD INTO THE LATE EVENING AND OVERNIGHT PERIOD. WE DO HAVE SOME SHOWERS STILL LIFTING THROUGH NORTHERN DAUPHIN COUNTY, GETTING A LITTLE BIT OF A BREAK ELSEWHERE, BUT THE FRONT IS JUST OFF TO OUR WEST. THIS IS GOING TO MOVE THROUGH THIS MORNING. YOU CAN EXPECT MAYBE SOME RUMBLES OF THUNDER, STRONG GUSTY WINDS AS THIS LINE IS COMING THROUGH AND SOME BRIEF HEAVY DOWNPOURS. AND AS YOU MAKE YOUR WAY OUT, YOU’LL NEED THAT UMBRELLA. BUT IT WILL BE DRIER FOR THE EVENING COMMUTE. IT WILL BE COLDER, SO DEFINITELY NEED TO HAVE THAT WINTER JACKET AS TEMPERATURES AT 5:00 WILL BE IN THE LOW 30S. EVEN THOUGH WE’RE IN THE 50S RIGHT NOW WITH THE WINDS, IT WILL FEEL EVEN COLDER. BACK TO YOU. THANK YOU, MARY ELLEN, FOR THAT. WELL, MORE THAN 300 CHILDREN IN DAUPHIN COUNTY ARE IN FOSTER CARE, AND FOR MANY, THERE’S NO ONE TO ADVOCATE FOR THEM. AND TO CHANGE THAT, AN ORGANIZATION IS ASKING FOR YOUR HELP THROUGH WHAT IT’S CALLING A GIVING TREE CAMPAIGN. NEWS EIGHT’S GABRIEL THOMAS IS JOINING US LIVE IN LOWER PAXTON TOWNSHIP IN DAUPHIN COUNTY WITH HOW WE CAN GET INVOLVED. GOOD MORNING. GABRIELLE. GOOD MORNING. KATELYN REGINA. WELL, CASA, A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION HERE IN DAUPHIN COUNTY. ALL MONTH THEY’VE BEEN RAISING MONEY TO SUPPORT ITS GIVING CAMPAIGN. NOW, THE TREE THAT YOU SEE HERE ISN’T THE GIVING TREE. THE GIVING TREE IS ACTUALLY ONLINE. THEY’VE BEEN TRYING TO RAISE FUNDS TO RECRUIT MORE VOLUNTEERS, TO STAND UP FOR THOSE CHILDREN WHO REALLY DON’T HAVE A VOICE WHEN THEY’RE IN COURT. NOW I HAVE KIM SINCLAIR JOINING ME THIS MORNING. SHE IS WITH CASA. KIM, EXPLAIN TO ME HOW THE GIVING CAMPAIGN CAME ABOUT. SURE, I SURE CAN. SO DAUPHIN COUNTY CASA, WE ARE COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATES. AND THE GIVING TREE. LIKE YOU SAID, THE MONETARY DONATIONS WILL GO TO GROWING OUR VOLUNTEERS. SO, GABRIELLE, TODAY I’D LIKE TO TELL YOUR VIEWERS THERE ARE MORE THAN 340 CHILDREN WAKING UP IN DAUPHIN COUNTY WITHOUT A PERMANENT HOME. THIS MAY LOOK LIKE A TEMPORARY FOSTER HOME, A TREATMENT FACILITY, OR A GROUP HOME. SO WHAT OUR VOLUNTEERS DO IS THEY ADVOCATE FOR THESE CHILDREN, HOPEFULLY FINDING THAT HELPING TO FIND THAT PERMANENT, SAFE HOME. WE DO THIS THROUGH WORKING WITH A CASE TEAM, THE COURTS, GIVING REPORTS TO THE JUDGES, PAINTING A PICTURE OF THAT CHILD’S LIFE TO HOPEFULLY EXPEDITE THEM THROUGH THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM A LITTLE QUICKER. AND AS I MENTIONED, THE GIVING TREE CAMPAIGN ISN’T IN PERSON. IT’S ACTUALLY ONLINE. HOW DOES THAT WORK? RIGHT. SO IN 2020, DURING THE PANDEMIC, IT STARTED ONLINE AND IT JUST KIND OF STUCK. SO WHAT YOUR VIEWERS CAN DO IS LOG ON TO DAUPHIN COUNTY CASA.ORG. THAT’S DAUPHIN COUNTY CASA. ORG YOU CAN PICK AN ORNAMENT, A LIGHT OR A GIFT ON THE VIRTUAL TREE AND MAKE A MONETARY DONATION. AND LIKE YOU SAID, THIS DONATION WILL HELP US GROW OUR TEAM OF VOLUNTEERS. THERE ARE THREE MORE THAN 340 CHILDREN IN DAUPHIN COUNTY FOSTER CARE SYSTEM, AND WE HAVE 60 VOLUNTEERS. AND WE’D LOVE TO GIVE A VOLUNTEER TO EVERY SINGLE CHILD. WHAT A GREAT WAY TO HELP THOSE CHILDREN IN NEED. WELL, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO DONATE TO CASA’S GIVING TREE CAMPAIGN, I’LL HAVE THAT LINK ON MY FACEBOOK REPORTING LIVE HERE IN LOWER PAXTON TOWNSHIP. I’M GABRIELLE THOMAS, WGAL, NEWS EIGHT. IT IS SAD TO THINK ABOUT ALL THOSE CHILDREN, ESPECIALLY AROUND THE CHRISTMAS SEASON. YOU DEFINITELY WANT TO HELP AS MUCH AS YOU CAN. ALL RIGHT, GABRIELLE, THANK YOU FOR THAT. A NONPROFIT IN CUMBERLAND COUNTY IS HOSTING A COMMUNITY EVENT THIS WEEKEND TO HELP RAISE MONEY FOR ANIMALS IN NEED THIS HOLIDAY SEASON. NEWS EIGHT’S JACOB HUNZIKER IS JOINING US LIVE WITH THE FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT OF THE CUMBERLAND VALLEY ANIMAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM TO TALK ABOUT HOW YOU CAN HELP THERE THIS WEEKEND AS WELL. GOOD MORNING. JACOB KATELYN REGINA. GOOD MORNING TO BOTH OF YOU. THE CUMBERLAND VALLEY ANIMAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM HELPS BOTH ANIMALS AND FAMILIES THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRETY OF OUR REGION THIS MORNING, AND SO WE ARE JOINED BY CHRIS DORHAUER, WHO IS THE PRESIDENT AND FOUNDER OF THIS EVENT, AND REALLY JUST THE ENTIRE PROGRAM, WHO WANTS TO GIVE US MORE DETAILS ABOUT WHAT EXACTLY THIS EVENT IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE TODAY AND THIS WEEKEND. SO HELP US UNDERSTAND HERE. WHAT CAN PEOPLE EXPECT? YEAH. SO I MEAN, IT’S PRETTY SIMPLE. IT’S A DONATION EVENT. RIGHT. SO I KIND OF CALL IT LIKE A CHURCH OFFERING. WE REALLY DON’T WANT TO KNOW. BUT AS YOU CAN SEE, AS YOU LOOK AROUND THE ROOM, WE HAVE PRODUCTS FROM ALL OVER THE PLACE. EVERYTHING’S BASICALLY NEW AND BOXED. SOME DAMAGED BOX STUFF, AND IT’S JUST TO KIND OF RAISE FUNDS FOR OTHER NONPROFITS LIKE OURS. AND, YOU KNOW, OUR NONPROFIT TO TO HELP US GET THROUGH THIS NEXT YEAR. IT’S BEEN DIFFICULT TO RAISE FUNDS FOR NONPROFITS. SO WE’RE JUST TRYING TO NORMALLY WOULD SET THIS UP AT A SMALLER SCALE. WE WERE REALLY BLESSED. THEY DIDN’T HAVE ANY HURRICANES COME THROUGH THIS YEAR THAT MADE LANDFALL. AND SO WE HAD SOME TRAILERS, SOME ITEMS THAT WERE SUPPOSED TO BE EARMARKED FOR THAT, THAT WE DIDN’T GET OUT. SO WE SAID, HEY, LET’S OPEN THEM UP TO THE COMMUNITY. AND SO THAT’S WHAT YOU’RE LOOKING AT. AND I UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, WE’RE GETTING REALLY CLOSE TO THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY. FOR THOSE THAT DON’T KNOW, IT’S CRAZY ENOUGH. IT’S ALREADY GOING TO BE NEXT WEEK. SO IF PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE COMING OUT HERE TO THIS EVENT, WHAT TYPE OF ITEMS CAN THEY EXPECT TO POSSIBLY BE GETTING FOR THEIR FAMILIES? IS IT JUST FOR THEIR PETS, OR IS IT A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING NOW? I MEAN, IT’S ABSOLUTELY A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING. YOU’RE GOING FROM TOYS TO TOOLS, SOME SHAMPOO, SOME SOAPS, LITERALLY EVERYTHING. ALL RIGHT. WELL, CHRIS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. WE GREATLY APPRECIATE IT. MORE DETAILS SPECIFICALLY ON THE EVENT TONIGHT FOR TEACHERS, VETERANS AND FIRST RESPONDERS. 5 TO 9:00. AND THEN THIS WEEKEND, 9 A.M. TO 9 P.M. EVERYONE IS WELCOME. YOU CAN FIND THE FULL DETAILS ABOUT THE EVENT AND EVERYTHING THAT YOU NEED TO KNOW. ANY DETAILS WE DIDN’T ALREADY TOUCH ON THIS MORNING ON MY FACEBOOK PAGE, SO CHECK THAT OUT IF YOU’RE GOING TO BE COMING OUT HERE. WE’

Pennsylvania lawmakers seek tougher swatting bill, making hoax callers pay

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Updated: 1:04 PM EST Dec 19, 2025

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Pennsylvania lawmakers are seeking to curb the rise of “swatting” incidents by making hoax callers pay for the cost of the emergency response, according to the memo. Video above: Headlines from WGAL News 8 Today.Representatives Greg Scott and Jim Haddock announced plans to introduce legislation to address the increase in swatting incidents, which they say cause fear and waste emergency resources by responding to false reports of active shooters on university campuses.”Earlier this year, students, staff, and faculty of several Pennsylvania universities waited in terror as SWAT teams and law enforcement agencies responded to false reports of active shooters on their campuses,” the memo said. Scott and Haddock say these “swatting” incidents also put first responders, including police and firefighters, in danger as they rush to the scene. In response, Scott and Haddock are introducing legislation to clarify that the offense of “false alarms to agencies of public safety” involves knowingly and intentionally making a false report of a crime or emergency, the representatives said in the memo. The proposed bill would authorize courts to order those convicted of making false reports to pay back the state or local government for the cost of the emergency response, including staff and vehicles. “We believe strengthening the provisions of our law will provide greater protection to our communities by creating a greater deterrent for those who may seek to engage in this activity,” the memo said.

Pennsylvania lawmakers are seeking to curb the rise of “swatting” incidents by making hoax callers pay for the cost of the emergency response, according to the memo.

Video above: Headlines from WGAL News 8 Today.

Representatives Greg Scott and Jim Haddock announced plans to introduce legislation to address the increase in swatting incidents, which they say cause fear and waste emergency resources by responding to false reports of active shooters on university campuses.

“Earlier this year, students, staff, and faculty of several Pennsylvania universities waited in terror as SWAT teams and law enforcement agencies responded to false reports of active shooters on their campuses,” the memo said.

Scott and Haddock say these “swatting” incidents also put first responders, including police and firefighters, in danger as they rush to the scene.

In response, Scott and Haddock are introducing legislation to clarify that the offense of “false alarms to agencies of public safety” involves knowingly and intentionally making a false report of a crime or emergency, the representatives said in the memo.

The proposed bill would authorize courts to order those convicted of making false reports to pay back the state or local government for the cost of the emergency response, including staff and vehicles.

“We believe strengthening the provisions of our law will provide greater protection to our communities by creating a greater deterrent for those who may seek to engage in this activity,” the memo said.