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There is apparently a window of four and a half hours, where you receive complete dispensation for making a false police report to New Mexico LE and the FBI.

The "window" is no doubt indefinite with regard to time duration. If you are the object of search, and are not in custody (e.g., kids call in "I'm being kidnapped! I'm in a black 1988 Cadillac!") you probably get a short time to recant. But when you are a runaway bride-to-be (she told them she was scheduled to be married), the cops might just have a suspicion that your story is made up as cover for cold feet.

I think that law enforcement does a respectable job of probing the complaint before going off. It's a sort of safety valve for them, and for the people they are serving.

"I think that law enforcement does a respectable job of probing the complaint before going off."

Usually, but not in this case. I think all the talk of charging her is due to the police being embarrassed for being so throughly hoodwinked into mounting such a massive search so early. This isn't the normal procedure for a missing person, unless it is a child.

" I think that law enforcement does a respectable job of probing the complaint before going off."

I agree. My semi tongue in cheek was directed at the bosses who decided to be PC and absolve Jennifer of any culpability, not towards those doing the heavy lifting in the field.
None of us would dare do what Jennifer did , because we know that we would be facing legal consequences.
Whether we are planning a wedding or having a bad day.