US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

18 U.S.C. § 3125

Emergency pen register and trap and trace device installation

(a)
Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, any investigative or law enforcement officer, specially designated by the Attorney General, the Deputy Attorney General, the Associate Attorney General, any Assistant Attorney General, any acting Assistant Attorney General, or any Deputy Assistant Attorney General, or by the principal prosecuting attorney of any State or subdivision thereof acting pursuant to a statute of that State, who reasonably determines that—
(1)
an emergency situation exists that involves—
(A)
immediate danger of death or serious bodily injury to any person;
(B)
conspiratorial activities characteristic of organized crime;
(C)
an immediate threat to a national security interest; or
(D)
an ongoing attack on a protected computer (as defined in section 1030) that constitutes a crime punishable by a term of imprisonment greater than one year;
that requires the installation and use of a pen register or a trap and trace device before an order authorizing such installation and use can, with due diligence, be obtained, and
(2)
there are grounds upon which an order could be entered under this chapter to authorize such installation and use;
section 3123 of this titlemay have installed and use a pen register or trap and trace device if, within forty-eight hours after the installation has occurred, or begins to occur, an order approving the installation or use is issued in accordance with .
(b)
In the absence of an authorizing order, such use shall immediately terminate when the information sought is obtained, when the application for the order is denied or when forty-eight hours have lapsed since the installation of the pen register or trap and trace device, whichever is earlier.
(c)
The knowing installation or use by any investigative or law enforcement officer of a pen register or trap and trace device pursuant to subsection (a) without application for the authorizing order within forty-eight hours of the installation shall constitute a violation of this chapter.
(d)
A provider of a wire or electronic service, landlord, custodian, or other person who furnished facilities or technical assistance pursuant to this section shall be reasonably compensated for such reasonable expenses incurred in providing such facilities and assistance.

Pub. L. 100–690, title VII, § 7092(a)(2)102 Stat. 4410Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330008(3)108 Stat. 2142Pub. L. 104–294, title VI, § 601(f)(5)110 Stat. 3499Pub. L. 107–296, title XXII, § 2207(i)116 Stat. 2158Pub. L. 115–278, § 2(g)(2)(I)132 Stat. 4178(Added , , ; amended , , ; , , ; , formerly title II, § 225(i), , , renumbered § 2207(i), , , .)

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

section 3126 of this titleA prior section 3125 was renumbered .

Amendments

Pub. L. 107–2962002—Subsec. (a)(1)(C), (D). added subpars. (C) and (D).

Pub. L. 104–2941996—Subsec. (a). struck out closing quotation mark at end.

Pub. L. 103–322, § 330008(3)(A)section 3123 of this titlesection 3123 of this title1994—Subsec. (a). , (B), substituted “use;” for “use’ ” in par. (2) and directed that matter beginning with “may have installed” and ending with “” be realigned so that it is flush to the left margin, which was executed to text containing a period after “”, to reflect the probable intent of Congress.

Pub. L. 103–322, § 330008(3)(C)Subsec. (d). , substituted “provider of” for “provider for”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2002 Amendment

Pub. L. 107–296section 4 of Pub. L. 107–296section 101 of Title 6Amendment by effective 60 days after , see , set out as an Effective Date note under , Domestic Security.

Effective Date

section 302 of Pub. L. 99–508section 3121 of this titleSection effective 90 days after , and, in case of conduct pursuant to court order or extension, applicable only with respect to court orders and extensions made after such date, with special rule for State authorizations of interceptions, see , set out as a note under .