California statute
Cal. Penal Code § 638.51
Current through 2025–2026 Regular Session (leginfo weekly dump, 2026-07-12)
Part of Chapter 1.5: Invasion of Privacy, California Penal Code.
Full text of Cal. Penal Code § 638.51
Statutory text current through the 2025–2026 Regular Session (leginfo weekly dump, 2026-07-12). This publication reproduces the official statutory text; it is not the official statutes of the State of California.
(a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), a person may not install or use a pen register or a trap and trace device without first obtaining a court order pursuant to Section 638.52 or 638.53. (b) A provider of electronic or wire communication service may use a pen register or a trap and trace device for any of the following purposes: (1) To operate, maintain, and test a wire or electronic communication service. (2) To protect the rights or property of the provider. (3) To protect users of the service from abuse of service or unlawful use of service. (4) To record the fact that a wire or electronic communication was initiated or completed 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. (5) If the consent of the user of that service has been obtained. (c) A violation of this section is punishable by a fine not exceeding two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500), or by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding one year, or by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170, or by both that fine and imprisonment. (d) A good faith reliance on an order issued pursuant to Section 638.52, or an authorization made pursuant to Section 638.53, is a complete defense to a civil or criminal action brought under this section or under this chapter.
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