§ 12-32-4. Exceptions.
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, an agent of the state, or any
political subdivision of the state, may obtain location information from a service
provider without obtaining a warrant under the following circumstances:
(1) In order to respond to the user's call for emergency services;
(2) In order to respond to a call for emergency services, including a request from an
E-911 supervisor to determine the location of a cellular telephone, when required
pursuant to an emergency involving actual or potential death, serious physical injury,
or major damage to property and the information is needed without delay;
(3) If an agent of the state, or any political subdivision of the state, believes that
an emergency involving immediate danger of death or serious physical injury to any
person requires the obtaining of information relating to the emergency without delay,
and/or pursuant to the Kelsey Smith Act, as codified in § 39-2-20;
(4) If the location information was generated by an electronic device used as a condition
of release from a penal institution, as a condition of pre-trial release, probation,
conditional discharge, parole, mandatory supervised release, or other sentencing order;
(5) With the express consent of the owner or user of the electronic communications device
concerned;
(6) With the express, informed consent of the parent or foster parent of a minor who is
the owner or user, or the legal guardian or next of kin of the owner or user, if the
owner or user is believed to be deceased or reported missing and unable to be contacted;
(7) If the electronic device is reported lost or stolen by the owner or user of the electronic
device; or
(8) If the government entity is the owner of the electronic device and has issued it to
an employee or it is attached to property owned by the government entity.
(b) Not later than five (5) days after the date on which an agent of the state, or any
political subdivision of the state, obtains access to records under this section,
a governmental entity shall file with the appropriate court a signed, sworn statement
of a supervisory official of a rank designated by the head of the governmental entity
setting forth the grounds for the access to information in this section. Should the
courts not be open upon the expiration of the five (5) days, the statement shall be
filed the next day the court is open to receive such statement.
(c) When location information is sought pursuant to this chapter, and unless otherwise
permitted by a warrant, any acquisition of information shall immediately terminate
when the location information sought is obtained.
(d) In the event an application for a warrant is denied, or in any other case where the
interception is made or terminated without a warrant having been issued where required
by this chapter, notice shall be served to all owners or known users of electronic
devices about which location information was acquired in violation of this chapter.
(e) The notice required by § 12-32-3 shall also be provided when location information is obtained pursuant to subdivisions
(a)(2) or (a)(3).
(f) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prohibit law enforcement from obtaining,
without a court order, location information when the information, including metadata
attached to images and video, is otherwise publicly available on a social networking
website.