Wiretapping and Electronic Surveillance Control Act
Pennsylvania · Crimes and Offenses · §§ 18-5701 to 18-5782 · 51 sections
Overview
The act governs the interception of wire, electronic, and oral communications and the handling of stored communications and related records. It generally prohibits intercepting, disclosing, or using such communications and restricts the possession, sale, manufacture, and advertisement of interception devices, subject to enumerated exceptions, while establishing a judicial authorization process for law enforcement interception — application requirements, grounds for an order, target-specific and emergency procedures, recording and sealing of intercepted material, notice to persons whose communications were intercepted, and reporting by issuing judges and prosecuting officials. It further sets conditions for governmental access to stored communications, including subpoenas, backup preservation, delayed notice, and cost reimbursement, and provides civil remedies, injunctive relief, and removal from office or employment for unlawful interception, disclosure, or use.
Editorial summary generated from the text of this act. It is not part of the statute — read the sections below for the operative language.
Sections covered
- 18 Pa.C.S. § 5701Short title of chapter
- 18 Pa.C.S. § 5702Definitions
- 18 Pa.C.S. § 5703Interception, disclosure or use of wire, electronic or oral communications
- 18 Pa.C.S. § 5704Exceptions to prohibition of interception and disclosure of communications
- 18 Pa.C.S. § 5705Possession, sale, distribution, manufacture or advertisement of electronic, mechanical or other devices and telecommunication identification interception devices
- 18 Pa.C.S. § 5706Exceptions to prohibitions in possession, sale, distribution, manufacture or advertisement of electronic, mechanical or other devices
- 18 Pa.C.S. § 5707Seizure and forfeiture of electronic, mechanical or other devices
- 18 Pa.C.S. § 5708Order authorizing interception of wire, electronic or oral communications
- 18 Pa.C.S. § 5709Application for order
- 18 Pa.C.S. § 5710Grounds for entry of order
- 18 Pa.C.S. § 5711Privileged communications
- 18 Pa.C.S. § 5712Issuance of order and effect
- 18 Pa.C.S. § 5712.1Target-specific orders
- 18 Pa.C.S. § 5713Emergency situations
- 18 Pa.C.S. § 5713.1Emergency hostage and barricade situations
- 18 Pa.C.S. § 5714Recording of intercepted communications
- 18 Pa.C.S. § 5715Sealing of applications, orders and supporting papers
- 18 Pa.C.S. § 5716Service of inventory and inspection of intercepted communications
- 18 Pa.C.S. § 5717Investigative disclosure or use of contents of wire, electronic or oral communications or derivative evidence
- 18 Pa.C.S. § 5718Interception of communications relating to other offenses
- 18 Pa.C.S. § 5719Unlawful use or disclosure of existence of order concerning intercepted communication
- 18 Pa.C.S. § 5720Service of copy of order and application before disclosure of intercepted communication in trial, hearing or proceeding
- 18 Pa.C.S. § 5721Suppression of contents of intercepted communication or derivative evidence (Repealed)
- 18 Pa.C.S. § 5721.1Evidentiary disclosure of contents of intercepted communication or derivative evidence
- 18 Pa.C.S. § 5722Report by issuing or denying judge
- 18 Pa.C.S. § 5723Annual reports and records of Attorney General and district attorneys
- 18 Pa.C.S. § 5724Training
- 18 Pa.C.S. § 5725Civil action for unlawful interception, disclosure or use of wire, electronic or oral communication
- 18 Pa.C.S. § 5726Action for removal from office or employment
- 18 Pa.C.S. § 5727Expiration (Repealed)
- 18 Pa.C.S. § 5728Injunction against illegal interception
- 18 Pa.C.S. § 5729Public access (Repealed)
- 18 Pa.C.S. § 5741Unlawful access to stored communications
- 18 Pa.C.S. § 5742Disclosure of contents and records
- 18 Pa.C.S. § 5743Requirements for governmental access
- 18 Pa.C.S. § 5743.1Administrative subpoena
- 18 Pa.C.S. § 5744Backup preservation
- 18 Pa.C.S. § 5745Delayed notice
- 18 Pa.C.S. § 5746Cost reimbursement
- 18 Pa.C.S. § 5747Civil action
- 18 Pa.C.S. § 5748Exclusivity of remedies
- 18 Pa.C.S. § 5749Retention of certain records
- 18 Pa.C.S. § 5750Department of Corrections retention policy
- 18 Pa.C.S. § 5761Mobile tracking devices
- 18 Pa.C.S. § 5771General prohibition on use of certain devices and exception
- 18 Pa.C.S. § 5772Application for an order for use of certain devices
- 18 Pa.C.S. § 5773Issuance of an order for use of certain devices
- 18 Pa.C.S. § 5774Assistance in installation and use of certain devices
- 18 Pa.C.S. § 5775Reports concerning certain devices
- 18 Pa.C.S. § 5781Expiration of chapter
- 18 Pa.C.S. § 5782Regulations
Enacted in other states
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