{"jurisdiction": "us-ny", "code": "penal", "section": "270.15", "citation": "Penal Law § 270.15", "heading": "Unlawfully refusing to yield a party line", "text": ["§ 270.15 Unlawfully refusing to yield a party line.", "1. As used in this section:", "(a) \"Party line\" means a subscriber's line telephone circuit, consisting of two or more main telephone stations connected therewith, each station with a distinctive ring or telephone number.", "(b) \"Emergency call\" means a telephone call to a police or fire department, or for medical aid or ambulance service, necessitated by a situation in which human life or property is in jeopardy and prompt summoning of aid is essential.", "2. A person is guilty of unlawfully refusing to yield a party line when, being informed that a party line is needed for an emergency call, he refuses immediately to relinquish such line.", "Unlawfully refusing to yield a party line is a class B misdemeanor."], "official_source": "https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/PEN/270.15", "from_official_api": true, "plain_english": "- **(1)** A **party line** is a telephone circuit shared by at least **2 main stations** with distinct rings or numbers; an **emergency call** seeks police, fire, medical, or ambulance aid when life or property is endangered and prompt help is essential.\n- **(2)** After being told the party line is needed for an emergency call, **refusing to give it up immediately** is a **class B misdemeanor**. ★", "in_force_on": "2026-05-31", "retrieved": "2026-09-27", "url": "https://elyphived.com/us-ny/penal/270.15", "publisher": "Elyphived LLC"}