2023 -- H 5566

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LC001770

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- PEN REGISTERS AND TRAP AND TRACE

DEVICES

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Place, Rea, Chippendale, and Nardone

     Date Introduced: February 15, 2023

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Sections 12-5.2-1, 12-5.2-2, 12-5.2-3 and 12-5.2-4 of the General Laws in

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Chapter 12-5.2 entitled "Pen Registers and Trap and Trace Devices" are hereby amended to read

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as follows:

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     12-5.2-1. Definitions.

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     As used in this chapter:

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     (1) “Designated offense” means the offenses of:

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     (i) Murder, robbery, kidnapping, extortion, assault with a dangerous weapon, and assault

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with intent to rob or murder;

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     (ii) Arson in the first degree, arson in the second degree, or arson in the third degree;

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     (iii) Bribery; larceny involving the receipt of stolen property of a value of more than five

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hundred dollars ($500);

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     (iv) Any violation of chapter 28 of title 21 where the offense is punishable by imprisonment

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for more than one year;

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     (v) Any violation of chapters 19, 47, or 51 of title 11, where the offense is punishable by

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imprisonment for more than one year;

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     (vi) The lending of money at a rate of interest in violation of law; and

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     (vii) Conspiracy to commit any of the offenses provided in this subdivision;

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     (2) “Pen register” means a device which records or decodes electronic or other impulses

 

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which identify the numbers dialed or otherwise transmitted on the telephone line to which the

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device is attached, but does not include any device used by a provider or customer of a wire or

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electronic communication service for billing, or recording as an incident to billing, for

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communications services provided by the provider or any device used by a provider or customer of

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a wire communication service for cost accounting or other like purposes in the ordinary course of

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its business;

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     (3) "Stingray" means any cell-site simulator device which forces nearby mobile phones and

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other cellular data devices to connect to it, or forces a temporary connection with cellular devices

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for the purpose of downloading the IMSI, ESN, or other identifying data from each of the cellular

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phones or cellular data devices which are forced to connect to the device;

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     (3)(4) “Trap and trace device” means a device which captures the incoming electronic or

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other impulses which identify the originating number of an instrument or device from which a wire

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or electronic communication was transmitted;

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     (4)(5) “Wire communications” has the meaning set forth in § 12-5.1-1.

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     12-5.2-2. Application for an order for a pen register or a trap and trace device

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Application for an order for a pen register or a trap and trace device or a stingray.

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     (a)(1) The attorney general or an assistant attorney general designated by the attorney

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general may make application for an order or an extension of an order pursuant to the provisions

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of § 12-5.2-3 authorizing or approving the installation and use of a pen register or a trap and trace

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device, or stingray under this chapter, in writing under oath or equivalent affirmation, to the

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presiding justice of the superior court or his or her designee in order to obtain information regarding

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a designated offense.

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     (2) Any law enforcement officer set forth in § 12-5-3 may make application for an order or

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an extension of an order under § 12-5.2-3 authorizing or approving the installation and use of a pen

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register, or a trap and trace device, or stingray under this chapter, in writing under oath or equivalent

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affirmation to the presiding justice of the superior court or his or her designee.

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     (b) An application pursuant to subsection (a) of this section shall include:

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     (1) The identity of the attorney general, assistant attorney general, or the law enforcement

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officer making the application and the identity of the law enforcement agency conducting the

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investigation; and

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     (2) A certification by the applicant that the information likely to be obtained is relevant and

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necessary to an ongoing criminal investigation, that other investigative procedures have been or are

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being initiated or conducted, and that the request for the issuance of the pen register and/or trap and

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trace device, or stingray is necessary to further an ongoing criminal investigation being conducted

 

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by that agency.

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     12-5.2-3. Issuance of an order for a pen register or a trap and trace device.

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     (a)(1) Upon an application made pursuant to § 12-5.2-2, the court shall enter an ex parte

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order authorizing the installation and use of a pen register, or a trap and trace device, or stingray if

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the court is reasonably satisfied that the information likely to be obtained by the installation and

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use is relevant and necessary to further an ongoing criminal investigation and that use of a pen

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register, or trap and trace device, or stingray is the least intrusive way to obtain the information

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sought.

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     (2) An order issued under this section shall specify:

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     (i) The identity, if known, of the person to whom is leased or in whose name is listed the

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telephone line to which the pen register, or trap and trace device, or stingray is to be attached;

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     (ii) The identity of the person who is the subject of the criminal investigation;

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     (iii) The number and physical location of the telephone line to which the pen register or

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trap and trace device is to be attached and, in the case if of a trap and trace device, the geographic

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limits of the trap and trace device, order or stingray;

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     (iv) A statement of the offense to which the information likely to be obtained by the pen

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register, or trap and trace device, or stingray is relevant; and

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     (v) Shall direct, upon the request of the applicant, the furnishing of information, facilities,

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and technical assistance necessary to accomplish the installation of the pen register, or trap and

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trace device, or stingray under § 12-5.2-4.

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     (b) An order issued pursuant to this section shall authorize the installation and use of a pen

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register, or a trap and trace device, or stingray for a period not to exceed sixty (60) days.

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     (c) Extensions of the order may be granted only upon an application for an order pursuant

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to § 12-5.2-2, and upon the judicial finding required by subdivision (a)(1) of this section. The period

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of extension shall be a period not to exceed sixty (60) days.

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     (d) An order authorizing or approving the installation and use of a pen register, or a trap

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and trace device, or stingray shall direct that:

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     (1) The order is sealed until otherwise ordered by the court; and

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     (2) The person owning or leasing the line to which the pen register, or a trap and trace

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device, or stingray is attached, or who has been ordered by the court to provide assistance to the

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applicant, not disclose the existence of the pen register or trap and trace device or the existence of

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the investigation to the listed subscriber, or to any other person, unless or until otherwise ordered

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by the court.

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     12-5.2-4. Assistance in installation and use of pen register or a trap and trace device

 

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Assistance in installation and use of pen register, a trap and trace device or a stingray.

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     (a) Upon the request of the attorney general, assistant attorney general, or law enforcement

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officer authorized to install and use a pen register under this chapter, a provider of wire

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communication service shall immediately furnish the attorney general, assistant attorney general,

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or law enforcement officer all information, facilities, and technical assistance necessary to

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accomplish the installation of the pen register or a stingray unobtrusively, and with a minimum of

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interference with the services that the person so ordered by the court accords the party with respect

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to whom the installation and use is to take place, if the assistance is directed by a court order as

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provided in § 12-5.2-3.

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     (b) Upon the request of the attorney general, assistant attorney general, or an officer of a

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law enforcement agency authorized to receive the results of a trap and trace device or a stingray

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under this chapter, a provider of a wire communication service shall immediately install the device

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on the appropriate line and shall furnish the investigative or law enforcement officer all additional

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information, facilities, and technical assistance including installation and operation of the device

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unobtrusively and with a minimum of interference with the services that the person so ordered by

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the court accords the party with respect to whom the installation and use is to take place, if the

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installation and assistance is directed by a court order as provided in § 12-5.2-3. Unless otherwise

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ordered by the court, the results of the trap and trace device or a stingray shall be furnished to the

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attorney general, assistant attorney general, or officer of a law enforcement agency, designated by

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the court, at reasonable intervals during regular business hours for the duration of the order.

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     (c) A provider of a wire communication service who furnishes facilities or technical

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assistance pursuant to this section shall be reasonably compensated for reasonable expenses

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incurred in providing these facilities and assistance.

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     (d) No cause of action shall lie in any court against any provider of a wire communication

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service, its officers, employees, or agents, or other specified persons for providing information,

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facilities, or assistance in accordance with the terms of a court order under this chapter.

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     (e) Good faith reliance on a court order, a legislative authorization, or a statutory

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authorization shall be an absolute defense against any civil or criminal action brought pursuant to

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this chapter or any other law.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC001770

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO CRIMINAL PROCEDURE -- PEN REGISTERS AND TRAP AND TRACE

DEVICES

***

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     This act would prohibit the use of a stingray cell-site simulator device by any law

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enforcement agency except upon application for its use and the granting of an order by the presiding

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justice of the superior court.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC001770

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