Montana § 45-5-223 Surreptitious Visual Observation Or Recordation -- Place Of Residence -- Public Place -- Exceptions

Montana Statutes

§ 45-5-223 — Surreptitious Visual Observation Or Recordation -- Place Of Residence -- Public Place -- Exceptions

Montana § 45-5-223

Title 45CRIMES

Ch. 5OFFENSES AGAINST THE PERSON

Part 2Assault and Related Offenses

This text of Montana § 45-5-223 (Surreptitious Visual Observation Or Recordation -- Place Of Residence -- Public Place -- Exceptions) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Montana primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

Mont. Code Ann. § 45-5-223 (2026).

Text

45-5-223 . Surreptitious visual observation or recordation -- place of residence -- public place -- exceptions.

(1)A person commits the offense of surreptitious visual observation or recordation in a place of residence if the person purposely or knowingly hides, waits, or otherwise loiters in person or by means of a remote electronic device within or in the vicinity of a private dwelling house, apartment, or other place of residence for the purpose of:

(a)watching, gazing at, or looking upon any occupant in the residence in a surreptitious manner without the occupant's knowledge; or

(b)by means of an electronic device, surreptitiously observing or recording the visual image of any occupant in the residence without the occupant's knowledge.

(2)A person commits the offense of surreptitio

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45-5-223 . Surreptitious visual observation or recordation -- place of residence -- public place -- exceptions. (1) A person commits the offense of surreptitious visual observation or recordation in a place of residence if the person purposely or knowingly hides, waits, or otherwise loiters in person or by means of a remote electronic device within or in the vicinity of a private dwelling house, apartment, or other place of residence for the purpose of:
(a) watching, gazing at, or looking upon any occupant in the residence in a surreptitious manner without the occupant's knowledge; or
(b) by means of an electronic device, surreptitiously observing or recording the visual image of any occupant in the residence without the occupant's knowledge.
(2) A person commits the offense of surreptitious visual observation or recordation in public if the person purposely or knowingly observes or records a visual image of the sexual or intimate parts of another person in a public place without the other person's knowledge when the victim has a reasonable expectation of privacy.
(3) Subsections (1) and (2) do not apply to a law enforcement officer, an agent or employee of an insurer, or a private investigator licensed pursuant to 37-60-301 or to any person engaged in fraud detection, prevention, or prosecution pursuant to 2-15-2015 or 39-71-211 while the officer, agent, employee, or private investigator is acting in the course and scope of employment for legitimate investigative purposes.
(4) A person convicted of an offense under subsection (1) or (2) shall be fined an amount not to exceed $500 or be incarcerated in the county jail for a term not to exceed 6 months, or both. Upon a second conviction, a person shall be fined an amount not to exceed $1,000 or be incarcerated for a term not to exceed 1 year, or both. Upon a third or subsequent conviction, a person shall be fined an amount not to exceed $10,000 or be incarcerated for a term not to exceed 5 years, or both.