(1)  Upon the request of an attorney for the government or an officer of a law enforcement agency authorized to install and use pen registers under this chapter, a provider of wire or electronic communications service, landlord, custodian, or other person shall furnish investigative or law enforcement officers forthwith all information, facilities, and technical assistance necessary to accomplish the installation of the pen register unobtrusively and with a minimum of interference with the services the person ordered by the court accords the party regarding whom the installation and use is to take place, if such assistance is directed by a court order as provided in Subsection 77-23a-15(2)(b) of this chapter.

Terms Used In Utah Code 77-23a-16

  • Electronic communications service: means any service that provides for users the ability to send or receive wire or electronic communications. See Utah Code 77-23a-3
  • Investigative or law enforcement officer: means any officer of the state or of a political subdivision, who by law may conduct investigations of or make arrests for offenses enumerated in this chapter, or any federal officer as defined in Section 53-13-106, and any attorney authorized by law to prosecute or participate in the prosecution of these offenses. See Utah Code 77-23a-3
  • Pen register: means a device that records or decodes electronic or other impulses that identify the numbers dialed or otherwise transmitted on the telephone line to which the device is attached. See Utah Code 77-23a-3
  • Person: means any employee or agent of the state or a political subdivision, and any individual, partnership, association, joint stock company, trust, or corporation. See Utah Code 77-23a-3
  • Trap and trace device: means a device, process, or procedure that captures the incoming electronic or other impulses that identify the originating number of an instrument or device from which a wire or electronic communication is transmitted. See Utah Code 77-23a-3
(2) 

(a)  Upon request of an attorney for the government or an officer of a law enforcement agency authorized to receive the results of a trap and trace device under this chapter, a provider of wire or electronic communications service, landlord, custodian, or other person shall install the device forthwith on the appropriate line.

(b)  He shall also furnish the investigative or law enforcement officer all additional information, facilities, and technical assistance, including installation and operation of the device unobtrusively and with a minimum of interference with the services that the person so ordered by the court accords the party with respect to whom the installation and use is to take place, if the installation and assistance is directed by a court order under Section 77-23a-15(2)(b).

(c)  Unless otherwise ordered by the court, the results of the trap and trace device shall be furnished to the officer of the law enforcement agency designated by the court, at reasonable intervals and during regular business hours, for the duration of the order.

(3)  A provider of wire or electronic communications service, landlord, custodian, or other person who furnishes facilities or technical assistance under this section shall be reasonably compensated for reasonable expenses incurred in providing the facilities and assistance.

(4)  A cause of action does not lie in any court against the provider of wire or electronic communications service, its officers, employees, agents, or other specified persons, for providing information, facilities, or assistance in accordance with the terms of a court order under this chapter.

(5)  A good faith reliance on a court order, a legislative authorization, or a statutory authorization, is a complete defense against any civil or criminal action brought under this chapter or any other law.

Enacted by Chapter 251, 1988 General Session