Federal · Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal Procedure

18 U.S.C. § 3122: Application for an order for a pen register or a trap and trace device

Civil

What this law says, in plain English

This statute describes the procedure for government attorneys and law enforcement to apply to a court for authorization to install pen registers or trap and trace devices during criminal investigations.

Read the full statutory text

An attorney for the Government may make application for an order or an extension of an order under section 3123 of this title authorizing or approving the installation and use of a pen register or a trap and trace device under this chapter, in writing under oath or equivalent affirmation, to a court of competent jurisdiction. Unless prohibited by State law, a State investigative or law enforcement officer may make application for an order or an extension of an order under section 3123 of this title authorizing or approving the installation and use of a pen register or a trap and trace device under this chapter, in writing under oath or equivalent affirmation, to a court of competent jurisdiction of such State. the identity of the attorney for the Government or the State law enforcement or investigative officer making the application and the identity of the law enforcement agency conducting the investigation; and a certification by the applicant that the information likely to be obtained is relevant to an ongoing criminal investigation being conducted by that agency.

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This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.