"A person who willfully, maliciously, and repeatedly follows, harasses, or cyberstalks another person commits the offense of stalking, a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided."
Does the word "repeatedly" only modify follows, or do the words "willfully, maliciously and repeatedly" modify "follows, harasses or cyberstalks"?
What rule of language is involved or, is there a separate rule, such as some sort of statutory interpretation rule that is used?
What a great question. I'm afraid I don't know the answer.
I know this much:
The adverbs wilfully, maliciously, and repeatedly all modify follows.
I think it's then ambiguous as to whether they also modify harasses, or cyberstalks.
I am unaware of any rules that halt the influence of modifiers.
Here are some options:
A person who harasses, cyberstalks, or wilfully, maliciously, and repeatedly follows another person...
[This guarantees only follows is modified.]
or
A person who wilfully, maliciously and repeatedly follows, willfully, maliciously and repeatedly harasses, or wilfully, maliciously and repeatedly cyberstalks another person...
[This guarantees all are modified.]
I don't think our language can cope with this. I'd be keen to see other suggestions or to hear if there are any rules out there.
