| Wiretapping is a common procedure that police use to | | | | wiretap or phone tap to survey your home and |
| catch a suspect in the act. Some people wonder if the | | | | communication activities. |
| laws in regards to telephone tapping or other | | | | Eavesdropping and wiretapping in many states offer |
| surveillance have changed since the 9/11 terrorist | | | | you the right to know if your phone has been tapped. |
| attacked occurred. | | | | Police are obligated to tell you from the start that your |
| Laws have changed since then. According to the | | | | telephony communications is being wired. They must |
| United States America Patriot Act, a wide range of | | | | inform you ahead of any interrogations and interviews |
| laws has been put into place. It pays to know your | | | | they wish to conduct. |
| rights. The Act was put into place to make law | | | | Federal law and the state laws regulate wiretapping |
| enforcement more powerful by deterring terrorists. | | | | laws, which means that they are prohibited. Under Title |
| After 9/11 occurred a week later new laws became | | | | III in the Act of Omnibus Crime Control and Safe |
| active. Congress enacted these laws a month after. | | | | Street Acts that were written in 1968, law |
| Some of the laws enacted by Congress will be listed | | | | enforcement is prohibited from deciding if they can |
| in this article. | | | | intercept any verbal communication, which includes |
| Protect yourself. The wiretap statute under Title III is | | | | phone communication. |
| effective. | | | | Eavesdropping may occur in the workplace. If an |
| Devices can be used under the act in which law | | | | employer listens to communication taking place in the |
| enforcement can enforce pen register and the trace | | | | ladies bathroom they may be subject to a violation of |
| and tap statue as well as electronic communication | | | | the laws and could get sued for punitive damage, or |
| privacy acts. | | | | criminal liability for their willful violation. If a business |
| The law may enter into a computer and seize after | | | | owner wiretaps your home phone or business with |
| searching the computer and follow procedures to | | | | any electronic devices it is called eavesdropping, which |
| check or regulate financial transactions as well as | | | | can lead to an immediate civil lawsuit. |
| reporting. Immigration laws have been enforced as well | | | | If you feel that your rights have been violated, or that |
| as the computer fraud and abuse Act, bank secrecy | | | | you suspect someone has used the wiretapping laws |
| act, and so forth. | | | | inappropriately, you are advised to consult with an |
| There are judicial safeguards in some of these acts | | | | attorney immediately. You can file civil lawsuits and |
| that protect your rights in which this case a judge must | | | | send them away for criminal behaviors. If the law |
| approve. If the judge does not give approval then the | | | | enforcement tells you after you have been arrested |
| law cannot conduct wiretapping. On the other hand, if | | | | that your phone was tapped consult with an attorney |
| you are suspect of a crime, bearing that the law has | | | | to find out more about your rights. |
| suspicion they may get the judge to approve a | | | | |