968.30 Annotation
Suppression of wire communications is reserved for those which are illegally intercepted and does not apply to legally intercepted communications which are improperly disclosed. State v. Gilmore, 201 W (2d) 814, 549 NW (2d) 401 (1996).
968.30 Annotation
Communications privacy: A legislative perspective. Kastenmeier, Leavy & Beier. 1989 WLR 715 (1989).
968.31
968.31
Interception and disclosure of wire, electronic or oral communications prohibited. 968.31(1)
(1) Except as otherwise specifically provided in
ss. 196.63 or
968.28 to
968.30, whoever commits any of the acts enumerated in this section may be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned for not more than 5 years or both:
Effective date note
NOTE: Sub. (1) (intro.) is amended eff. 12-31-99 by
1997 Wis. Act 283 to read:
Effective date text
(1) Except as otherwise specifically provided in ss. 196.63 or 968.28 to 968.30, whoever commits any of the acts enumerated in this section may be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned for not more than 7 years and 6 months or both:
968.31(1)(a)
(a) Intentionally intercepts, attempts to intercept or procures any other person to intercept or attempt to intercept, any wire, electronic or oral communication.
968.31(1)(b)
(b) Intentionally uses, attempts to use or procures any other person to use or attempt to use any electronic, mechanical or other device to intercept any oral communication.
968.31(1)(c)
(c) Discloses, or attempts to disclose, to any other person the contents of any wire, electronic or oral communication, knowing or having reason to know that the information was obtained through the interception of a wire, electronic or oral communication in violation of this section or under circumstances constituting violation of this section.
968.31(1)(d)
(d) Uses, or attempts to use, the contents of any wire, electronic or oral communication, knowing or having reason to know that the information was obtained through the interception of a wire, electronic or oral communication in violation of this section or under circumstances constituting violation of this section.
968.31(1)(e)
(e) Intentionally discloses the contents of any oral, electronic or wire communication obtained by authority of
ss. 968.28,
968.29 and
968.30, except as therein provided.
968.31(1)(f)
(f) Intentionally alters any wire, electronic or oral communication intercepted on tape, wire or other device.
968.31(2)(a)
(a) For an operator of a switchboard, or an officer, employe or agent of any provider of a wire or electronic communication service, whose facilities are used in the transmission of a wire or electronic communication to intercept, disclose or use that communication in the normal course of his or her employment while engaged in any activity which is a necessary incident to the rendition of his or her service or to the protection of the rights or property of the provider of that service, except that a provider of a wire or electronic communication service shall not utilize service observing or random monitoring except for mechanical or service quality control checks.
968.31(2)(b)
(b) For a person acting under color of law to intercept a wire, electronic or oral communication, where the person is a party to the communication or one of the parties to the communication has given prior consent to the interception.
968.31(2)(c)
(c) For a person not acting under color of law to intercept a wire, electronic or oral communication where the person is a party to the communication or where one of the parties to the communication has given prior consent to the interception unless the communication is intercepted for the purpose of committing any criminal or tortious act in violation of the constitution or laws of the United States or of any state or for the purpose of committing any other injurious act.
968.31(2)(d)
(d) For any person to intercept or access an electronic communication made through an electronic communication system that is configured so that the electronic communication is readily accessible to the general public.
968.31(2)(e)
(e) For any person to intercept any radio communication that is transmitted:
968.31(2)(e)1.
1. By any station for the use of the general public, or that relates to ships, aircraft, vehicles or persons in distress;
968.31(2)(e)2.
2. By any governmental, law enforcement, civil defense, private land mobile or public safety communications system, including police and fire, readily accessible to the general public;
968.31(2)(e)3.
3. By a station operating on an authorized frequency within the bands allocated to the amateur, citizens band or general mobile radio services; or
968.31(2)(e)4.
4. By any marine or aeronautical communications system.
968.31(2)(f)
(f) For any person to engage in any conduct that:
968.31(2)(f)1.
1. Is prohibited by section 633 of the communications act of 1934; or
968.31(2)(f)2.
2. Is excepted from the application of section 705 (a) of the communications act of 1934 by section 705 (b) of that act.
968.31(2)(g)
(g) For any person to intercept any wire or electronic communication the transmission of which is causing harmful interference to any lawfully operating station or consumer electronic equipment, to the extent necessary to identify the source of the interference.
968.31(2)(h)
(h) For users of the same frequency to intercept any radio communication made through a system that utilizes frequencies monitored by individuals engaged in the provision or the use of the system, if the communication is not scrambled or encrypted.
968.31(2)(j)
(j) For a provider of electronic communication service to record the fact that a wire or electronic communication was initiated or completed in order to protect the provider, another provider furnishing service toward the completion of the wire or electronic communication, or a user of that service, from fraudulent, unlawful or abusive use of the service.
968.31(2m)
(2m) Any person whose wire, electronic or oral communication is intercepted, disclosed or used in violation of
ss. 968.28 to
968.37 shall 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 communication, and shall be entitled to recover from any such person:
968.31(2m)(a)
(a) Actual damages, but not less than liquidated damages computed at the rate of $100 a day for each day of violation or $1,000, whichever is higher;
968.31(2m)(c)
(c) A reasonable attorney's fee and other litigation costs reasonably incurred.
968.31(3)
(3) Good faith reliance on a court order or on
s. 968.30 (7) shall constitute a complete defense to any civil or criminal action brought under
ss. 968.28 to
968.37.
968.31 Annotation
Testimony of undercover police officer carrying a concealed eavesdropping device under (2) is not the product of such eavesdropping and is admissible even assuming the eavesdropping was unconstitutional. State v. Smith, 72 W (2d) 711, 242 NW (2d) 184.
968.31 Annotation
The use of the "called party control device" by the communications common carrier to trace bomb scares and other harassing telephone calls would not violate any law if used with the consent of the receiving party. 60 Atty. Gen. 90.
968.32
968.32
Forfeiture of contraband devices. Any electronic, mechanical, or other intercepting device used in violation of
s. 968.31 (1) may be seized as contraband by any peace officer and forfeited to this state in an action by the department of justice under
ch. 778.
968.32 History
History: 1979 c. 32 s.
92 (8).
968.33
968.33
Reports concerning intercepted wire or oral communications. In January of each year, the department of justice shall report to the administrative office of the United States courts such information as is required to be filed by
18 USC 2519. A duplicate copy of the reports shall be filed, at the same time, with the office of the director of state courts.
968.33 History
History: 1973 c. 12 s.
37;
1977 c. 187 s.
135; Sup. Ct. Order, 88 W (2d) xiii (1979).
968.34
968.34
Use of pen register or trap and trace device restricted. 968.34(1)(1) Except as provided in this section, no person may install or use a pen register or a trap and trace device without first obtaining a court order under
s. 968.36 or
18 USC 3123 or
50 USC 1801 to
1811.
968.34(2)
(2) The prohibition of
sub. (1) does not apply with respect to the use of a pen register or a trap and trace device by a provider of electronic or wire communication service:
968.34(2)(a)
(a) Relating to the operation, maintenance and testing of a wire or electronic communication service or to the protection of the rights or property of the provider, or to the protection of users of that service from abuse of service or unlawful use of service;
968.34(2)(b)
(b) To record the fact that a wire or electronic communication was initiated or completed in order to protect the provider, another provider furnishing service toward the completion of the wire communication, or a user of that service, from fraudulent, unlawful or abusive use of service; or
968.34(2)(c)
(c) Where the consent of the user of that service has been obtained.
968.34(2m)
(2m) The prohibition of
sub. (1) does not apply to a telephone caller identification service authorized under
s. 196.207 (2).
968.34(3)
(3) Whoever knowingly violates
sub. (1) shall be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned not more than one year or both.
Effective date note
NOTE: Sub. (3) is amended eff. 12-31-99 by
1997 Wis. Act 283 to read:
Effective date text
(3) Whoever knowingly violates sub. (1) shall be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned for not more than 2 years or both.
968.35
968.35
Application for an order for a pen register or a trap and trace device. 968.35(1)
(1) The attorney general or a district attorney may make application for an order or an extension of an order under
s. 968.36 authorizing or approving the installation and use of a pen register or a trap and trace device, in writing under oath or equivalent affirmation, to a circuit court for the county where the device is to be located.
968.35(2)
(2) An application under
sub. (1) shall include all of the following:
968.35(2)(a)
(a) The identity of the person making the application and the identity of the law enforcement agency conducting the investigation.
968.35(2)(b)
(b) A certification by the applicant that the information likely to be obtained is relevant to an ongoing criminal investigation being conducted by that agency.
968.35 History
History: 1987 a. 399.
968.36
968.36
Issuance of an order for a pen register or a trap and trace device. 968.36(1)(1) Upon an application made under
s. 968.35, the court shall enter an ex parte order authorizing the installation and use of a pen register or a trap and trace device within the jurisdiction of the court if the court finds that the applicant has certified to the court that the information likely to be obtained by the installation and use is relevant to an ongoing criminal investigation.
968.36(2)
(2) An order issued under this section shall do all of the following:
968.36(2)(a)
(a) Specify the identity, if known, of the person to whom is leased or in whose name is listed the telephone line to which the pen register or trap and trace device is to be attached.
968.36(2)(b)
(b) Specify the identity, if known, of the person who is the subject of the criminal investigation.
968.36(2)(c)
(c) Specify the number and, if known, the physical location of the telephone line to which the pen register or trap and trace device is to be attached and, in the case of a trap and trace device, the geographic limits of the trap and trace order.
968.36(2)(d)
(d) Provide a statement of the offense to which the information likely to be obtained by the pen register or trap and trace device relates.
968.36(2)(e)
(e) Direct, upon the request of the applicant, the furnishing of information, facilities and technical assistance necessary to accomplish the installation of the pen register or trap and trace device under
s. 968.37.
968.36(3)
(3) An order issued under this section shall authorize the installation and use of a pen register or a trap and trace device for a period not to exceed 60 days.
968.36(4)
(4) Extensions of the order may be granted, but only upon an application for an order under
s. 968.35 and upon the judicial finding required by
sub. (1). The period of extension shall be for a period not to exceed 60 days.
968.36(5)
(5) An order authorizing or approving the installation and use of a pen register or a trap and trace device shall direct that:
968.36(5)(a)
(a) The order be sealed until otherwise ordered by the court; and
968.36(5)(b)
(b) The person owning or leasing the line to which the pen register or a trap and trace device is attached, or who has been ordered by the court to provide assistance to the applicant, not disclose the existence of the pen register or trap and trace device or the existence of the investigation to the listed subscriber, or to any other person, unless or until otherwise ordered by the court.
968.36 History
History: 1987 a. 399.
968.37
968.37
Assistance in the installation and use of a pen register or trap and trace device. 968.37(1)
(1) Upon the request of the attorney general, a district attorney or an officer of a law enforcement agency authorized to install and use a pen register under
ss. 968.28 to
968.37, a provider of wire or electronic communication service, landlord, custodian or other person shall furnish the investigative or law enforcement officer 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 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 assistance is directed by a court order under
s. 968.36 (5) (b).
968.37(2)
(2) Upon the request of the attorney general, a district attorney or an officer of a law enforcement agency authorized to receive the results of a trap and trace device under
ss. 968.28 to
968.37, a provider of a wire or electronic communication service, landlord, custodian or other person shall install the device forthwith on the appropriate line and shall 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
s. 968.36 (5) (b). Unless otherwise ordered by the court, the results of the trap and trace device shall be furnished to the officer of a law enforcement agency, designated by the court, at reasonable intervals during regular business hours for the duration of the order.
968.37(3)
(3) A provider of a wire or electronic communication service, landlord, custodian or other person who furnishes facilities or technical assistance under this section shall be reasonably compensated for the reasonable expenses incurred in providing the facilities and assistance.
968.37(4)
(4) No cause of action may lie in any court against any provider of a wire or electronic communication service, its officers, employes or agents or other specified persons for providing information, facilities or assistance in accordance with the terms of a court order under
s. 968.36.
968.37(5)
(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
ss. 968.28 to
968.37.
968.37 History
History: 1987 a. 399.
968.38
968.38
Testing for HIV infection and certain diseases. 968.38(1)(a)
(a) "Health care professional" means a physician or a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse who is licensed under
ch. 441.
968.38(1)(b)
(b) "HIV" means any strain of human immunodeficiency virus, which causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.
968.38(2)
(2) In a criminal action under
s. 940.225,
948.02,
948.025,
948.05,
948.06 or
948.095, if all of the following apply, the district attorney shall apply to the circuit court for his or her county to order the defendant to submit to a test or a series of tests administered by a health care professional to detect the presence of HIV, antigen or nonantigenic products of HIV, an antibody to HIV or a sexually transmitted disease and to disclose the results of the test or tests as specified in
sub. (4) (a) to
(c):
968.38(2)(a)
(a) The district attorney has probable cause to believe that the defendant has significantly exposed the alleged victim or victim. If the defendant is convicted or found not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect, this paragraph does not apply.
968.38(2)(b)
(b) The alleged victim or victim who is not a minor or the parent or guardian of the alleged victim or victim who is a minor requests the district attorney to so apply for an order.
