Texas Penal Code Practice

What action constitutes the offense of making silent or abusive calls to 9-1-1 service?

1. Threatening a person

2. Making repeated phone calls

3. Exposing genitals in public

4. Creating noxious odors in public

The correct answer is: Making repeated phone calls

The offense of making silent or abusive calls to 9-1-1 service is specifically characterized by the act of making repeated phone calls, particularly when these calls are not for legitimate emergencies or when they disrupt the operation of emergency services. This conduct can tie into the misuse of emergency resources, as it can hinder response times for genuine emergencies and creates unnecessary work for emergency personnel. While other options represent various offenses, they do not relate directly to the misuse of 9-1-1 services in the context of silent or abusive calls. For instance, threatening a person is an entirely different category of criminal behavior and doesn't specifically involve the manipulation of emergency communication. Exposing genitals in public and creating noxious odors also pertain to public decency laws but do not connect to the misuse of emergency call services. Thus, making repeated phone calls, particularly when they are silent or abusive, is the action that fulfills the criteria for this offense under the Texas Penal Code.