Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes
Chapter 57 - Wiretapping and Electronic Surveillance
Section 5713.1 - Emergency hostage and barricade situations

(a) Designation.--The Attorney General or a district attorney may designate supervising law enforcement officers for the purpose of authorizing the interception of wire or oral communications as provided in this section.
(b) Procedure.--A supervising law enforcement officer who reasonably determines that an emergency situation exists that requires a wire or oral communication to be intercepted before an order authorizing such interception can, with due diligence, be obtained, and who determines that there are grounds upon which an order could be entered under this chapter to authorize such interception, may intercept such wire or oral communication. An application for an order approving the interception must be made by the supervising law enforcement officer in accordance with section 5709 (relating to application for order) within 48 hours after the interception has occurred or begins to occur. Interceptions pursuant to this section shall be conducted in accordance with the procedures of this subchapter. Upon request of the supervising law enforcement officer who determines to authorize interceptions of wire communications under this section, a provider of electronic communication service shall provide assistance and be compensated therefor as provided in section 5712(f) (relating to issuance of order and effect). In the absence of an order, such interception shall immediately terminate when the situation giving rise to the hostage or barricade situation ends or when the application for the order is denied, whichever is earlier. In the event such application for approval is denied or in any other case where the interception is terminated without an order having been issued, the contents of any wire or oral communication intercepted shall be treated as having been obtained in violation of this subchapter, and an inventory shall be served as provided in section 5716 (relating to service of inventory and inspection of intercepted communications). Thereafter, the supervising law enforcement officer shall follow the procedures set forth in section 5713(b) (relating to emergency situations).
(c) Defense.--A good faith reliance on the provisions of this section shall be a complete defense to any civil or criminal action brought under this subchapter or any other statute against any law enforcement officer or agency conducting any interceptions pursuant to this section as well as a provider of electronic communication service who is required to provide assistance in conducting such interceptions upon request of a supervising law enforcement officer.
(d) Definitions.--As used in this section, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection:
"Emergency situation." Any situation where:
(1) a person is holding a hostage and is threatening serious physical injury and may resist with the use of weapons; or
(2) a person has barricaded himself and taken a position of confinement to avoid apprehension and:
(i) has the ability to resist with the use of weapons; or
(ii) is threatening suicide or harm to himself or others.
"Supervising law enforcement officer."
(1) For designations by a district attorney, any law enforcement officer trained pursuant to section 5724 (relating to training) to carry out interceptions under this section who has attained the rank of lieutenant or higher in a law enforcement agency within the county or who is in charge of a county law enforcement agency.
(2) For designations by the Attorney General, any member of the Pennsylvania State Police trained pursuant to section 5724 to carry out interceptions under this section and designated by the Commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police who:
(i) has attained the rank of lieutenant or higher; or
(ii) is in charge of a Pennsylvania State Police barracks.
(Oct. 21, 1988, P.L.1000, No.115, eff. imd.; Feb. 18, 1998, P.L.102, No.19, eff. imd.; Oct. 25, 2012, P.L.1634, No.202, eff. 60 days)

2012 Amendment. Act 202 amended subsec. (d).
1998 Amendment. Act 19 amended subsecs. (b) and (c).
1988 Amendment. Act 115 added section 5713.1.
Cross References. Section 5713.1 is referred to in sections 5706, 5716, 5721.1 of this title.

Structure Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes