Pennsylvania Statutes Title 18 Pa.C.S.A. Crimes and Offenses § 5771. General prohibition on use of certain devices and exception

(a) General rule.--Except as provided in this section, no person may install or use a pen register or a trap and trace device or a telecommunication identification interception device without first obtaining a court order under section 5773 (relating to issuance of an order for use of certain devices).

(b) Exception.--The prohibition of subsection (a) does not apply with respect to the use of a pen register, a trap and trace device or a telecommunication identification interception device by a provider of electronic or wire communication service:

(b.1) Limitation.--A government agency authorized to install and use a pen register under this chapter shall use technology reasonably available to it that restricts the recording or decoding of electronic or other impulses to the dialing and signaling information utilized in call processing.

(c) Penalty.--Whoever intentionally and knowingly violates subsection (a) is guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree.