HLS 15RS-1172 ORIGINAL
2015 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 424
BY REPRESENTATIVE HAVARD
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
LAW ENFORCEMENT: Provides with respect to cellular tracking devices
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 15:1302(2) and 1316(C) and to enact R.S. 14:222.3 and R.S.
3 15:1302(3.1) and (16.1), 1316(D) and (E), 1317, and 1318, relative to electronic
4 surveillance; to create the crime of unlawful use of a cellular tracking device; to
5 provide for definitions; to provide for criminal penalties; to provide for exceptions;
6 to provide for applicability; to provide procedures for use of a cellular tracking
7 device by law enforcement officers and investigative officers; and to provide for
8 related matters.
9Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
10 Section 1. R.S. 14:222.3 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
11 §222.3. Unlawful use of a cellular tracking device; penalty
12 A. It shall be unlawful for any person to possess or use a cellular tracking
13 device.
14 B. For the purposes of this Section:
15 (1) "Cellular tracking device" means a device that transmits or receives radio
16 waves for the purpose of conducting one or more of the following operations:
17 (a) Identifying, locating, or tracking the movements of a telecommunications
18 device.
19 (b) Affecting the hardware or software operations or functions of a
20 telecommunications device.
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1 (c) Forcing transmissions from or connections to a telecommunications
2 device.
3 (d) Denying, spoofing, or simulating a telecommunications device access to
4 other communications devices or services including but not limited to an
5 international mobile subscriber identity catcher or other invasive cell phone or
6 telephone surveillance or eavesdropping device that mimics a cell phone tower and
7 sends out signals to cause cellular telephones in the area to transmit their locations,
8 identifying information, and communications content.
9 (2) "Telecommunications device" means any type of instrument, device, or
10 machine that is capable of transmitting or receiving telephonic, electronic, radio,
11 text, or data communications, including but not limited to a cellular telephone, a text-
12 messaging device, a personal digital assistant, a computer, or any other similar
13 wireless device that is designed to engage in a call or communicate text or data. It
14 does not include citizens band radios, citizens band radio hybrids, commercial two-
15 way radio communication devices, or electronic communication devices with a push-
16 to-talk function.
17 C. The provisions of this Section shall not apply to any of the following:
18 (1) An investigative or law enforcement officer using a cellular tracking
19 device in accordance with the Electronic Surveillance Act and pursuant to a court
20 order as provided for in R.S. 15:1317 and 1318.
21 (2) An operator of a switchboard, or any officer, employee, or agent of any
22 electronic communications carrier, whose facilities are used in the transmission of
23 a wire communication, to intercept, disclose, or use that communication in the
24 normal course of his employment while engaged in any activity which is necessary
25 to his service or to the protection of the rights or property of the carrier of such
26 communication; however, such communications common carriers shall not utilize
27 service observing or random monitoring, except for mechanical or service quality
28 control checks.
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1 (3) An officer, employee, or agent of the Federal Communications
2 Commission, in the normal course of his employment and in discharge of the
3 monitoring responsibilities exercised by the commission in the enforcement of
4 Chapter 5 of Title 47 of the United States Code.
5 D. Whoever violates the provisions of this Section shall be fined not more
6 than three thousand dollars, imprisoned with or without hard labor for not more than
7 two years, or both.
8 Section 2. R.S. 15:1302(2) and 1316(C) are hereby amended and reenacted and R.S.
915:1302(3.1) and (16.1), 1316(D) and (E), 1317, and 1318 are hereby enacted to read as
10follows are hereby enacted to read as follows:
11 §1302. Definitions
12 As used in this Chapter:
13 * * *
14 (2) "Attorney for a governmental entity" means an attorney on the staff or
15 under the direct supervision of the district attorney authorized by law to prosecute
16 such offenses as are subject of the pen register, or a trap and trace device, or a
17 cellular tracking device.
18 * * *
19 (3.1) "Cellular tracking device" means a device that transmits or receives
20 radio waves for the purpose of conducting one or more of the following operations:
21 (a) Identifying, locating, or tracking the movements of a telecommunications
22 device.
23 (b) Affecting the hardware or software operations or functions of a
24 telecommunications device.
25 (c) Forcing transmissions from or connections to a telecommunications
26 device.
27 (d) Denying, spoofing, or simulating a telecommunications device access to
28 other telecommunications devices or services, including but not limited to an
29 international mobile subscriber identity catcher or other invasive cell phone or
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1 telephone surveillance or eavesdropping device that mimics a cell phone tower and
2 sends out signals to cause cellular telephones in the area to transmit their locations,
3 identifying information, and communications content.
4 * * *
5 (16.1) "Telecommunications device" or "communications device" means any
6 type of instrument, device, or machine that is capable of transmitting or receiving
7 telephonic, electronic, radio, text, or data communications, including but not limited
8 to a cellular telephone, a text-messaging device, a personal digital assistant, a
9 computer, or any other similar wireless device that is designed to engage in a call or
10 communicate text or data. It does not include citizens band radios, citizens band
11 radio hybrids, commercial two-way radio communication devices, or electronic
12 communication devices with a push-to-talk function.
13 * * *
14 §1316. Assistance in installation and use of pen register, or a trap and trace device,
15 or a cellular tracking device
16 * * *
17 C. Upon the request of an investigative or law enforcement agency
18 authorized to install and use a cellular tracking device pursuant to this Part, a
19 provider of a wire or electronic communication service, landlord, custodian, or other
20 person shall furnish such investigative or law enforcement officer with all
21 information, facilities, and technical assistance necessary, if applicable, to
22 accomplish the installation or use of a cellular tracking device unobtrusively and
23 with minimal interference with the services that the person so ordered by the court
24 accords the party with respect to whom the installation and use is to take place, if
25 such assistance is directed by a court order or investigative or law enforcement
26 agency pursuant to the provisions of R.S. 15:1317 and 1318.
27 C.D. A provider of a wire or electronic communication service, landlord,
28 custodian, or other person who furnishes facilities or technical assistance pursuant
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1 to this Section shall be compensated for such reasonable expenses incurred in
2 providing such facilities and assistance.
3 D.E. No cause of action shall lie in any Louisiana court against any provider
4 of a wire or electronic communication service, its officers, employees, agents, or
5 other specified persons for providing information, facilities, or assistance in
6 accordance with the terms of a court order under pursuant to this Part.
7 §1317. Application for an order for use of a cellular tracking device
8 A. An investigative or law enforcement officer shall not use a cellular
9 tracking device unless either of the following occur:
10 (1) The investigative or law enforcement agency has obtained an order
11 issued by a court to use the tracking instrument.
12 (2) Exigent circumstances exist that necessitate using the tracking instrument
13 without first obtaining a court order.
14 (3) If an investigative or law enforcement agency uses a cellular tracking
15 device based upon the existence of exigent circumstances, the investigative or law
16 enforcement agency shall seek to obtain an order issued by a court not later than
17 seventy-two hours after the initial use of the cellular tracking device.
18 B. An application made pursuant to this Section shall include:
19 (1) The identity of the investigative or law enforcement officer making the
20 application and the identity of the law enforcement agency conducting the
21 investigation.
22 (2) A certification by the applicant attesting that the information sought is
23 relevant to an ongoing felony criminal investigation being conducted by that agency,
24 and includes in that certification a recital of facts or information constituting the
25 reasonable suspicion upon which the application is based.
26 §1318. Issuance of an order for a cellular tracking device
27 A. Upon an application made pursuant to R.S. 15:1317, the court may enter
28 an ex parte order authorizing the use of the cellular tracking device if the court finds
29 that the investigative or law enforcement officer has certified to the court that the
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1 information likely to be obtained by such use is relevant to an ongoing felony
2 criminal investigation, and that the certification does include reasonable suspicion
3 as required by R.S. 15:1317.
4 B. An order issued under this Section shall specify, if applicable:
5 (1) The telephone number or other unique subscriber account number
6 identifying the wire or electronic communications service account used by the device
7 to which the cellular tracking device is to be attached or used.
8 (2) The physical location, if known, of the device for which the cellular
9 tracking device is to be attached or used.
10 (3) The type of device to which the cellular tracking device is to be attached
11 or used.
12 (4) All categories of metadata, data, or information to be collected by the
13 cellular tracking device from the targeted device including but not limited to
14 geolocation information.
15 (5) Whether or not the cellular tracking device will incidentally collect
16 metadata, data, or information from any parties or devices not specified in the court
17 order, and if so, what categories of information or metadata will be collected.
18 (6) Any disruptions to access or use of a communications or internet access
19 network that may be created by use of the cellular tracking device.
20 (7) A statement of the offense to which the information is likely to be
21 obtained by the cellular tracking device.
22 C. An order issued under this Section shall direct, upon request of the
23 applicant, the furnishing of information, facilities, and technical assistance necessary
24 to accomplish the use of the cellular tracking device under R.S. 15:1316 and 1317.
25 D.(1) An order issued under this Section shall authorize the use of a cellular
26 tracking device for a period not to exceed sixty days.
27 (2) Extensions of such an order may be granted, but only upon an application
28 for an order pursuant to R.S. 15:1317 and upon the judicial finding required by the
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1 provisions of this Section. The period of extension shall be for a period not to
2 exceed sixty days.
3 E. An order authorizing or approving the use of a cellular tracking device
4 shall direct that:
5 (1) The order be sealed until otherwise ordered by the court.
6 (2) The person who has been ordered by the court to provide assistance to
7 the applicant not disclose the existence of the cellular tracking device or the
8 existence of the investigation to the listed subscriber, or to any other person, unless
9 or until otherwise ordered by the court.
10 F. The head of each law enforcement agency possessing or making
11 application for the use of a cellular tracking device shall establish and implement
12 procedures which shall provide for and ensure the following:
13 (1) That only the chief officer of the law enforcement agency or specifically
14 authorized representative of the agency chief shall have the authority to authorize the
15 use of a cellular tracking device and only pursuant to R.S. 15:1317 and 1318.
16 (2) That no cellular tracking device in the possession of the law enforcement
17 agency shall be subject to unauthorized use.
18 G. A law enforcement agency authorized to use a cellular tracking device in
19 accordance with this Part shall do all of the following, if applicable:
20 (1) Take all steps necessary to limit the collection of any information or
21 metadata to the target specified in the applicable court order.
22 (2) Take all steps necessary to permanently delete any information or
23 metadata collected from any party not specified in the applicable court order
24 immediately following such collection and shall not transmit, use, or retain such
25 information or metadata for any purpose whatsoever.
26 (3) Delete any information or metadata collected from the target specified
27 in the court order within thirty-five days if there is no probable cause to support the
28 belief that such information or metadata is evidence of a crime.
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1 H. For the purposes of R.S. 15:1317 and 1318, "investigative or law
2 enforcement officer" means:
3 (1) Any commissioned officer of the office of state police.
4 (2) Any full-time commissioned city police officer of a municipality of this
5 state.
6 (3) Any sheriff or a deputy sheriff of a parish of this state which has been
7 specifically designated by the sheriff of that parish as responsible for preparation of
8 applications for use of cellular tracking devices.
9 (4) The attorney general, or any assistant attorney general or attorney
10 general's investigator which has been specifically designated by the attorney general
11 as responsible for preparation of applications for use of cellular tracking devices.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 424 Original 2015 Regular Session Havard
Abstract: Prohibits the use of a cellular tracking device by anyone except a law
enforcement or investigative officer, telecommunication employee, or an FCC
employee, and provides procedures for law enforcement to obtain a court order to
utilize cellular tracking devices.
Proposed law creates the crime of unlawful use of a cellular tracking device. A cellular
tracking device mimics a cell tower providing cell phone services and downloads or copies
the personal information of cell phone users. Makes exceptions for law enforcement and
investigative officers, telecommunications employees, and FCC employees in the
performance of their duties.
Proposed law provides penalties of a fine of not more than $3,000, imprisonment with or
without hard labor for not more than two years, or both.
Present law provides procedures for law enforcement and investigative officers to obtain
warrants from the court to use a trap and trace device or pen register (wire tapping
equipment).
Proposed law retains present law and adds similar provisions for the use of cellular tracking
devices.
(Amends 15:1302(2) and 1316(C); Adds R.S. 14:222.3 and R.S. 15:1302(3.1) and (16.1),
1316(D) and (E), 1317, and 1318)
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