Chapter 1.4. Interception Of Wire, Electronic Digital Pager, Or Electronic Cellular Telephone Communications of California Penal Code >> Title 15. >> Part 1. >> Chapter 1.4.

(a) Each application for an order authorizing the interception of a wire or electronic communication shall be made in writing upon the personal oath or affirmation of the Attorney General, Chief Deputy Attorney General, or Chief Assistant Attorney General, Criminal Law Division, or of a district attorney, or the person designated to act as district attorney in the district attorney's absence, to the presiding judge of the superior court or one other judge designated by the presiding judge. An ordered list of additional judges may be authorized by the presiding judge to sign an order authorizing an interception. One of these judges may hear an application and sign an order only if that judge makes a determination that the presiding judge, the first designated judge, and those judges higher on the list are unavailable. Each application shall include all of the following information:
  (1) The identity of the investigative or law enforcement officer making the application, and the officer authorizing the application.
  (2) The identity of the law enforcement agency that is to execute the order.
  (3) A statement attesting to a review of the application and the circumstances in support thereof by the chief executive officer, or his or her designee, of the law enforcement agency making the application. This statement shall name the chief executive officer or the designee who effected this review.
  (4) A full and complete statement of the facts and circumstances relied upon by the applicant to justify his or her belief that an order should be issued, including (A) details as to the particular offense that has been, is being, or is about to be committed, (B) the fact that conventional investigative techniques had been tried and were unsuccessful, or why they reasonably appear to be unlikely to succeed or to be too dangerous, (C) a particular description of the nature and location of the facilities from which or the place where the communication is to be intercepted, (D) a particular description of the type of communication sought to be intercepted, and (E) the identity, if known, of the person committing the offense and whose communications are to be intercepted, or if that person's identity is not known, then the information relating to the person's identity that is known to the applicant.
  (5) A statement of the period of time for which the interception is required to be maintained, and if the nature of the investigation is such that the authorization for interception should not automatically terminate when the described type of communication has been first obtained, a particular description of the facts establishing probable cause to believe that additional communications of the same type will occur thereafter.
  (6) A full and complete statement of the facts concerning all previous applications known, to the individual authorizing and to the individual making the application, to have been made to any judge of a state or federal court for authorization to intercept wire or electronic communications involving any of the same persons, facilities, or places specified in the application, and the action taken by the judge on each of those applications. This requirement may be satisfied by making inquiry of the California Attorney General and the United States Department of Justice and reporting the results of these inquiries in the application.
  (7) If the application is for the extension of an order, a statement setting forth the number of communications intercepted pursuant to the original order, and the results thus far obtained from the interception, or a reasonable explanation of the failure to obtain results.
  (8) An application for modification of an order may be made when there is probable cause to believe that the person or persons identified in the original order have commenced to use a facility or device that is not subject to the original order. Any modification under this subdivision shall only be valid for the period authorized under the order being modified. The application for modification shall meet all of the requirements in paragraphs (1) to (6), inclusive, and shall include a statement of the results thus far obtained from the interception, or a reasonable explanation for the failure to obtain results.
  (b) The judge may require the applicant to furnish additional testimony or documentary evidence in support of an application for an order under this section.
  (c) The judge shall accept a facsimile copy of the signature of any person required to give a personal oath or affirmation pursuant to subdivision (a) as an original signature to the application. The original signed document shall be sealed and kept with the application pursuant to the provisions of Section 629.66 and custody of the original signed document shall be in the same manner as the judge orders for the application.

(a) For the purposes of this chapter, the following terms have the following meanings:
  (1) "Wire communication" means any aural transfer made in whole or in part through the use of facilities for the transmission of communications by the aid of wire, cable, or other like connection between the point of origin and the point of reception (including the use of a like connection in a switching station), furnished or operated by any person engaged in providing or operating these facilities for the transmission of communications.
  (2) "Electronic communication" means any transfer of signs, signals, writings, images, sounds, data, or intelligence of any nature in whole or in part by a wire, radio, electromagnetic, photoelectric, or photo-optical system, but does not include any of the following:
  (A) Any wire communication defined in paragraph (1).
  (B) Any communication made through a tone-only paging device.
  (C) Any communication from a tracking device.
  (D) Electronic funds transfer information stored by a financial institution in a communications system used for the electronic storage and transfer of funds.
  (3) "Tracking device" means an electronic or mechanical device that permits the tracking of the movement of a person or object.
  (4) "Aural transfer" means a transfer containing the human voice at any point between and including the point of origin and the point of reception.
  (b) This chapter applies to the interceptions of wire and electronic communications. It does not apply to stored communications or stored content.
  (c) The act that added this subdivision is not intended to change the law as to stored communications or stored content.

Upon application made under Section 629.50, the judge may enter an ex parte order, as requested or modified, authorizing interception of wire or electronic communications initially intercepted within the territorial jurisdiction of the court in which the judge is sitting, if the judge determines, on the basis of the facts submitted by the applicant, all of the following:
  (a) There is probable cause to believe that an individual is committing, has committed, or is about to commit, one of the following offenses:
  (1) Importation, possession for sale, transportation, manufacture, or sale of controlled substances in violation of Section 11351, 11351.5, 11352, 11370.6, 11378, 11378.5, 11379, 11379.5, or 11379.6 of the Health and Safety Code with respect to a substance containing heroin, cocaine, PCP, methamphetamine, or their precursors or analogs where the substance exceeds 10 gallons by liquid volume or three pounds of solid substance by weight.
  (2) Murder, solicitation to commit murder, a violation of Section 209, or the commission of a felony involving a destructive device in violation of Section 18710, 18715, 18720, 18725, 18730, 18740, 18745, 18750, or 18755.
  (3) Any felony violation of Section 186.22.
  (4) Any felony violation of Section 11418, relating to weapons of mass destruction, Section 11418.5, relating to threats to use weapons of mass destruction, or Section 11419, relating to restricted biological agents.
  (5) Any violation of Section 236.1.
  (6) An attempt or conspiracy to commit any of the above-mentioned crimes.
  (b) There is probable cause to believe that particular communications concerning the illegal activities will be obtained through that interception, including, but not limited to, communications that may be utilized for locating or rescuing a kidnap victim.
  (c) There is probable cause to believe that the facilities from which, or the place where, the wire or electronic communications are to be intercepted are being used, or are about to be used, in connection with the commission of the offense, or are leased to, listed in the name of, or commonly used by the person whose communications are to be intercepted.
  (d) Normal investigative procedures have been tried and have failed or reasonably appear either to be unlikely to succeed if tried or to be too dangerous.

The Judicial Council may establish guidelines for judges to follow in granting an order authorizing the interception of any wire or electronic communications.

Each order authorizing the interception of any wire or electronic communication shall specify all of the following:
  (a) The identity, if known, of the person whose communications are to be intercepted, or if the identity is not known, then that information relating to the person's identity known to the applicant.
  (b) The nature and location of the communication facilities as to which, or the place where, authority to intercept is granted.
  (c) A particular description of the type of communication sought to be intercepted, and a statement of the illegal activities to which it relates.
  (d) The identity of the agency authorized to intercept the communications and of the person making the application.
  (e) The period of time during which the interception is authorized including a statement as to whether or not the interception shall automatically terminate when the described communication has been first obtained.

(a) Upon informal application by the Attorney General, Chief Deputy Attorney General, or Chief Assistant Attorney General, Criminal Law Division, or a district attorney, or the person designated to act as district attorney in the district attorney's absence, the presiding judge of the superior court or the first available judge designated as provided in Section 629.50 may grant oral approval for an interception, without an order, if he or she determines all of the following:
  (1) There are grounds upon which an order could be issued under this chapter.
  (2) There is probable cause to believe that an emergency situation exists with respect to the investigation of an offense enumerated in this chapter.
  (3) There is probable cause to believe that a substantial danger to life or limb exists justifying the authorization for immediate interception of a private wire or electronic communication before an application for an order could with due diligence be submitted and acted upon.
  (b) Approval for an interception under this section shall be conditioned upon filing with the judge, by midnight of the second full court day after the oral approval, a written application for an order which, if granted consistent with this chapter, shall also recite the oral approval under this subdivision and be retroactive to the time of the oral approval.

No order entered under this chapter shall authorize the interception of any wire or electronic communication for any period longer than is necessary to achieve the objective of the authorization, nor in any event longer than 30 days, commencing on the day of the initial interception, or 10 days after the issuance of the order, whichever comes first. Extensions of an order may be granted, but only upon application for an extension made in accordance with Section 629.50 and upon the court making findings required by Section 629.52. The period of extension shall be no longer than the authorizing judge deems necessary to achieve the purposes for which it was granted and in no event any longer than 30 days. Every order and extension thereof shall contain a provision that the authorization to intercept shall be executed as soon as practicable, shall be conducted so as to minimize the interception of communications not otherwise subject to interception under this chapter, and shall terminate upon attainment of the authorized objective, or in any event at the time expiration of the term designated in the order or any extensions. In the event the intercepted communication is in a foreign language, an interpreter of that foreign language may assist peace officers in executing the authorization provided in this chapter, provided that the interpreter has the same training as any other intercepter authorized under this chapter and provided that the interception shall be conducted so as to minimize the interception of communications not otherwise subject to interception under this chapter.

Whenever an order authorizing an interception is entered, the order shall require reports in writing or otherwise to be made to the judge who issued the order showing the number of communications intercepted pursuant to the original order, and a statement setting forth what progress has been made toward achievement of the authorized objective, or a satisfactory explanation for its lack, and the need for continued interception. If the judge finds that progress has not been made, that the explanation for its lack is not satisfactory, or that no need exists for continued interception, he or she shall order that the interception immediately terminate. The reports shall be filed with the court at the intervals that the judge may require, but not less than one for each period of 10 days, commencing with the date of the signing of the order, and shall be made by any reasonable and reliable means, as determined by the judge.

(a) Whenever an order authorizing an interception is entered, the order shall require a report in writing or otherwise to be made to the Attorney General showing what persons, facilities, places, or any combination of these are to be intercepted pursuant to the application, and the action taken by the judge on each of those applications. The report shall be made at the interval that the order may require, but not more than 10 days after the order was issued, and shall be made by any reasonable and reliable means, as determined by the Attorney General.
  (b) The Attorney General may issue regulations prescribing the collection and dissemination of information collected pursuant to this chapter.
  (c) The Attorney General shall, upon the request of an individual making an application for an interception order pursuant to this chapter, provide any information known as a result of these reporting requirements and in compliance with paragraph (6) of subdivision (a) of Section 629.50.

(a) The Attorney General shall prepare and submit an annual report to the Legislature, the Judicial Council, and the Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts on interceptions conducted under the authority of this chapter during the preceding year. Information for this report shall be provided to the Attorney General by any prosecutorial agency seeking an order pursuant to this chapter.
  (b) The report shall include all of the following data:
  (1) The number of orders or extensions applied for.
  (2) The kinds of orders or extensions applied for.
  (3) The fact that the order or extension was granted as applied for, was modified, or was denied.
  (4) The number of wire or electronic communication devices that are the subject of each order granted.
  (5) The period of interceptions authorized by the order, and the number and duration of any extensions of the order.
  (6) The offense specified in the order or application, or extension of an order.
  (7) The identity of the applying law enforcement officer and agency making the application and the person authorizing the application.
  (8) The nature of the facilities from which or the place where communications were to be intercepted.
  (9) A general description of the interceptions made under the order or extension, including (A) the number of persons whose communications were intercepted, (B) the number of communications intercepted, (C) the percentage of incriminating communications intercepted and the percentage of other communications intercepted, and (D) the approximate nature, amount, and cost of the manpower and other resources used in the interceptions.
  (10) The number of arrests resulting from interceptions made under the order or extension, and the offenses for which arrests were made.
  (11) The number of trials resulting from the interceptions.
  (12) The number of motions to suppress made with respect to the interceptions, and the number granted or denied.
  (13) The number of convictions resulting from the interceptions and the offenses for which the convictions were obtained and a general assessment of the importance of the interceptions.
  (14) Except with regard to the initial report required by this section, the information required by paragraphs (9) to (13), inclusive, with respect to orders or extensions obtained in a preceding calendar year.
  (15) The date of the order for service of inventory made pursuant to Section 629.68, confirmation of compliance with the order, and the number of notices sent.
  (16) Other data that the Legislature, the Judicial Council, or the Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts shall require.
  (c) The annual report shall be filed no later than April of each year, and shall also include a summary analysis of the data reported pursuant to subdivision (b). The Attorney General may issue regulations prescribing the content and form of the reports required to be filed pursuant to this section by any prosecutorial agency seeking an order to intercept wire or electronic communications.
  (d) The Attorney General shall, upon the request of an individual making an application, provide any information known to him or her as a result of these reporting requirements that would enable the individual making an application to comply with paragraph (6) of subdivision (a) of Section 629.50.

The contents of any wire or electronic communication intercepted by any means authorized by this chapter shall, if possible, be recorded on any recording media. The recording of the contents of any wire or electronic communication pursuant to this chapter shall be done in a way that will protect the recording from editing or other alterations and ensure that the recording can be immediately verified as to its authenticity and originality and that any alteration can be immediately detected. In addition, the monitoring or recording device shall be of a type and shall be installed to preclude any interruption or monitoring of the interception by any unauthorized means. Immediately upon the expiration of the period of the order, or extensions thereof, the recordings shall be made available to the judge issuing the order and sealed under his or her directions. Custody of the recordings shall be where the judge orders. They shall not be destroyed except upon an order of the issuing or denying judge and in any event shall be kept for 10 years. Duplicate recordings may be made for use or disclosure pursuant to the provisions of Sections 629.74 and 629.76 for investigations. The presence of the seal provided for by this section, or a satisfactory explanation for the absence thereof, shall be a prerequisite for the use or disclosure of the contents of any wire or electronic communication or evidence derived therefrom under Section 629.78.

Applications made and orders granted pursuant to this chapter shall be sealed by the judge. Custody of the applications and orders shall be where the judge orders. The applications and orders shall be disclosed only upon a showing of good cause before a judge or for compliance with the provisions of subdivisions (b) and (c) of Section 629.70 and shall not be destroyed except on order of the issuing or denying judge, and in any event shall be kept for 10 years.

Within a reasonable time, but no later than 90 days, after the termination of the period of an order or extensions thereof, or after the filing of an application for an order of approval under Section 629.56 which has been denied, the issuing judge shall issue an order that shall require the requesting agency to serve upon persons named in the order or the application, and other known parties to intercepted communications, an inventory which shall include notice of all of the following:
  (a) The fact of the entry of the order.
  (b) The date of the entry and the period of authorized interception.
  (c) The fact that during the period wire or electronic communications were or were not intercepted. The judge, upon filing of a motion, may, in his or her discretion, make available to the person or his or her counsel for inspection the portions of the intercepted communications, applications, and orders that the judge determines to be in the interest of justice. On an ex parte showing of good cause to a judge, the serving of the inventory required by this section may be postponed. The period of postponement shall be no longer than the authorizing judge deems necessary to achieve the purposes for which it was granted.

(a) A defendant shall be notified that he or she was identified as the result of an interception that was obtained pursuant to this chapter. The notice shall be provided prior to the entry of a plea of guilty or nolo contendere, or at least 10 days prior to any trial, hearing, or proceeding in the case other than an arraignment or grand jury proceeding.
  (b) Within the time period specified in subdivision (c), the prosecution shall provide to the defendant a copy of all recorded interceptions from which evidence against the defendant was derived, including a copy of the court order, accompanying application, and monitoring logs.
  (c) Neither the contents of any intercepted wire or electronic communication nor evidence derived from those contents shall be received in evidence or otherwise disclosed in any trial, hearing, or other proceeding, except a grand jury proceeding, unless each party, not less than 10 days before the trial, hearing, or proceeding, has been furnished with a transcript of the contents of the interception and with the materials specified in subdivision (b). This 10-day period may be waived by the judge with regard to the transcript if he or she finds that it was not possible to furnish the party with the transcript 10 days before the trial, hearing, or proceeding, and that the party will not be prejudiced by the delay in receiving that transcript.
  (d) A court may issue an order limiting disclosures pursuant to subdivisions (a) and (b) upon a showing of good cause.

Any person in any trial, hearing, or proceeding, may move to suppress some or all of the contents of any intercepted wire or electronic communications, or evidence derived therefrom, only on the basis that the contents or evidence were obtained in violation of the Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution or of this chapter. The motion shall be made, determined, and be subject to review in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 1538.5.

The Attorney General, any deputy attorney general, district attorney, or deputy district attorney, or any peace officer who, by any means authorized by this chapter, has obtained knowledge of the contents of any wire or electronic communication, or evidence derived therefrom, may disclose the contents to one of the individuals referred to in this section, to any judge or magistrate in the state, and to any investigative or law enforcement officer as defined in subdivision (7) of Section 2510 of Title 18 of the United States Code to the extent that the disclosure is permitted pursuant to Section 629.82 and is appropriate to the proper performance of the official duties of the individual making or receiving the disclosure. No other disclosure, except to a grand jury, of intercepted information is permitted prior to a public court hearing by any person regardless of how the person may have come into possession thereof.

The Attorney General, any deputy attorney general, district attorney, or deputy district attorney, or any peace officer or federal law enforcement officer who, by any means authorized by this chapter, has obtained knowledge of the contents of any wire or electronic communication, or evidence derived therefrom, may use the contents or evidence to the extent the use is appropriate to the proper performance of his or her official duties and is permitted pursuant to Section 629.82.

Any person who has received, by any means authorized by this chapter, any information concerning a wire or electronic communication, or evidence derived therefrom, intercepted in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, may, pursuant to Section 629.82, disclose the contents of that communication or derivative evidence while giving testimony under oath or affirmation in any criminal court proceeding or in any grand jury proceeding.

No otherwise privileged communication intercepted in accordance with, or in violation of, the provisions of this chapter shall lose its privileged character. When a peace officer or federal law enforcement officer, while engaged in intercepting wire or electronic communications in the manner authorized by this chapter, intercepts wire or electronic communications that are of a privileged nature he or she shall immediately cease the interception for at least two minutes. After a period of at least two minutes, interception may be resumed for up to 30 seconds during which time the officer shall determine if the nature of the communication is still privileged. If still of a privileged nature, the officer shall again cease interception for at least two minutes, after which the officer may again resume interception for up to 30 seconds to redetermine the nature of the communication. The officer shall continue to go online and offline in this manner until the time that the communication is no longer privileged or the communication ends. The recording device shall be metered so as to authenticate upon review that interruptions occurred as set forth in this chapter.

(a) If a peace officer or federal law enforcement officer, while engaged in intercepting wire or electronic communications in the manner authorized by this chapter, intercepts wire or electronic communications relating to crimes other than those specified in the order of authorization, but which are enumerated in subdivision (a) of Section 629.52, or any violent felony as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 667.5, (1) the contents thereof, and evidence derived therefrom, may be disclosed or used as provided in Sections 629.74 and 629.76 and (2) the contents and any evidence derived therefrom may be used under Section 629.78 when authorized by a judge if the judge finds, upon subsequent application, that the contents were otherwise intercepted in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. The application shall be made as soon as practicable.
  (b) If a peace officer or federal law enforcement officer, while engaged in intercepting wire or electronic communications in the manner authorized by this chapter, intercepts wire or electronic communications relating to crimes other than those specified in subdivision (a), the contents thereof, and evidence derived therefrom, may not be disclosed or used as provided in Sections 629.74 and 629.76, except to prevent the commission of a public offense. The contents and any evidence derived therefrom may not be used under Section 629.78, except where the evidence was obtained through an independent source or inevitably would have been discovered, and the use is authorized by a judge who finds that the contents were intercepted in accordance with this chapter.
  (c) The use of the contents of an intercepted wire or electronic communication relating to crimes other than those specified in the order of authorization to obtain a search or arrest warrant entitles the person named in the warrant to notice of the intercepted wire or electronic communication and a copy of the contents thereof that were used to obtain the warrant.

Any violation of this chapter is punishable by a fine not exceeding two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500), or by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding one year, or by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170, or by both that fine and imprisonment.

Any person whose wire or electronic communication is intercepted, disclosed, or used in violation of this chapter shall have the following remedies:
  (a) Have a civil cause of action against any person who intercepts, discloses, or uses, or procures any other person to intercept, disclose, or use, the communications.
  (b) Be entitled to recover, in that action, all of the following:
  (1) Actual damages but not less than liquidated damages computed at the rate of one hundred dollars ($100) a day for each day of violation or one thousand dollars ($1,000), whichever is greater.
  (2) Punitive damages.
  (3) Reasonable attorney's fees and other litigation costs reasonably incurred. A good faith reliance on a court order is a complete defense to any civil or criminal action brought under this chapter, or under Chapter 1.5 (commencing with Section 630) or any other law.

Nothing in Section 631, 632.5, 632.6, or 632.7 shall be construed as prohibiting any peace officer or federal law enforcement officer from intercepting any wire or electronic communication pursuant to an order issued in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. Nothing in Section 631, 632.5, 632.6, or 632.7 shall be construed as rendering inadmissible in any criminal proceeding in any court or before any grand jury any evidence obtained by means of an order issued in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. Nothing in Section 637 shall be construed as prohibiting the disclosure of the contents of any wire or electronic communication obtained by any means authorized by this chapter, if the disclosure is authorized by this chapter. Nothing in this chapter shall apply to any conduct authorized by Section 633.

No order issued pursuant to this chapter shall either directly or indirectly authorize covert entry into or upon the premises of a residential dwelling, hotel room, or motel room for installation or removal of any interception device or for any other purpose. Notwithstanding that this entry is otherwise prohibited by any other section or code, this chapter expressly prohibits covert entry of a residential dwelling, hotel room, or motel room to facilitate an order to intercept wire or electronic communications.

An order authorizing the interception of a wire or electronic communication shall direct, upon request of the applicant, that a public utility engaged in the business of providing communications services and facilities, a landlord, custodian, or any other person furnish the applicant forthwith all information, facilities, and technical assistance necessary to accomplish the interception unobtrusively and with a minimum of interference with the services which the public utility, landlord, custodian, or other person is providing the person whose communications are to be intercepted. Any such public utility, landlord, custodian, or other person furnishing facilities or technical assistance shall be fully compensated by the applicant for the reasonable costs of furnishing the facilities and technical assistance.

A good faith reliance on a court order issued in accordance with this chapter by any public utility, landlord, custodian, or any other person furnishing information, facilities, and technical assistance as directed by the order is a complete defense to any civil or criminal action brought under this chapter, Chapter 1.5 (commencing with Section 630), or any other law.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any court to which an application is made in accordance with this chapter may take any evidence, make any finding, or issue any order required to conform the proceedings or the issuance of any order of authorization or approval to the provisions of the Constitution of the United States, any law of the United States, or this chapter.

(a) The Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training, in consultation with the Attorney General, shall establish a course of training in the legal, practical, and technical aspects of the interception of private wire or electronic communications and related investigative techniques.
  (b) The Attorney General shall set minimum standards for certification and periodic recertification of the following persons as eligible to apply for orders authorizing the interception of private wire or electronic communications, to conduct the interceptions, and to use the communications or evidence derived from them in official proceedings:
  (1) Investigative or law enforcement officers.
  (2) Other persons, when necessary, to provide linguistic interpretation who are designated by the Attorney General, Chief Deputy Attorney General, or Chief Assistant Attorney General, Criminal Law Division, or the district attorney, or the district attorney's designee and are supervised by an investigative or law enforcement officer.
  (c) The Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training may charge a reasonable enrollment fee for those students who are employed by an agency not eligible for reimbursement by the commission to offset the costs of the training. The Attorney General may charge a reasonable fee to offset the cost of certification.

If any provision of this chapter, or the application thereof to any person or circumstances, is held invalid, the remainder of the chapter, and the application of its provisions to other persons or circumstances, shall not be affected thereby.

This chapter shall only remain in effect until January 1, 2020, and as of that date is repealed.