Arlington lays down law on Twitter threats

Arlington police took to social media Wednesday with their own message.

At twitter.com/ArlingtonPD, officers warned: “People who post threats on social media that cause alarm & interrupt @ArlingtonISD schools will be prosecuted for felony Terroristic Threat.”

After a hectic day when teens feared anonymous threats saying schools in Arlington and Cedar Hill “got it coming” or would have a “shootin,” police clarified the punishment for interrupting school.

Under the Texas Penal Code, it is a felony to threaten “any offense involving violence … with intent to cause impairment or interruption” of school, or to cause “fear of serious bodily injury.”

Punishment is removal from school and two to 10 years in prison, plus a fine of up to $10,000.

Teenage threats not only cost school time, but also cost taxpayers double: once for money and time spent on emergency response, and again if missed attendance costs school revenue.

Arlington’s response is strong but understandable.

This story was originally published November 18, 2015 at 6:08 PM with the headline "Arlington lays down law on Twitter threats."