2014 -- H 7189

========

LC003508

========

     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

____________

A N   A C T

RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- SEARCH WARRANTS

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Ajello, Craven, Walsh, Marcello, and Blazejewski

     Date Introduced: January 23, 2014

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

1

     SECTION 1. Chapter 12-5 of the General Laws entitled "Search Warrants" is hereby

2

amended by adding thereto the following section:

3

     12-5-11. Portable electronic devices. – (a) The general assembly finds and declares the

4

following:

5

     (1) The right to privacy is fundamental in a free and civilized society.

6

     (2) The number of Rhode Island residents utilizing and carrying portable electronic

7

devices is growing at a rapidly increasing rate. Users of portable electronic devices have a

8

reasonable and justifiable expectation of privacy in the information these devices contain and

9

access through the Internet.

10

     (3) Once in the exclusive control of the police, carrying portable electronic devices do not

11

ordinarily pose a threat to officer safety. Concerns about destruction of evidence on a carrying

12

portable electronic device can ordinarily be addressed through simple evidence preservation

13

methods and prompt application to a magistrate for a search warrant and, therefore, do not justify

14

a blanket exception to the warrant requirement. Moreover, good forensic evidence practice

15

supports the use of search warrants to obtain information contained in a carrying portable

16

electronic device seized incident to arrest.

17

     (b) The information contained in a portable electronic device shall not be subject to

18

search by a law enforcement officer incident to a lawful custodial arrest except pursuant to a

19

warrant issued by a duly authorized magistrate using the procedures established by this chapter.

 

1

     (c) As used in this section, “portable electronic device” means any portable device that is

2

capable of creating, receiving, accessing, or storing electronic data or communications.

3

     (d) Except as provided in subsection (b), nothing in this section shall be deemed to

4

restrict or affect law enforcement reliance on established exceptions to the warrant requirement.

5

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

========

LC003508

========

 

LC003508 - Page 2 of 3

EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- SEARCH WARRANTS

***

1

     This act would require search warrants be issued, subject to established exceptions, prior

2

to obtaining information contained in portable electronic devices.

========

LC003508

========

 

LC003508 - Page 3 of 3