An Act To Require a Warrant To Obtain the Location Information of a Cell Phone or Other Electronic Device
Maine Legislature, Session 126, LD 0415
Committee: Judiciary
Sponsors: KATZ, KRUGER, WOODBURY, CAREY, FREDETTE, HICKMAN, KESCHL

Legislative Document 
No. 415 
S.P. 157 
In Senate, February 14, 2013 
An Act To Require a Warrant To Obtain the Location Information 
of a Cell Phone or Other Electronic Device 
Reference to the Committee on Judiciary suggested and ordered printed. 
DAREK M. GRANT 
Secretary of the Senate 
Presented by Senator KATZ of Kennebec. 
Cosponsored by Representative KRUGER of Thomaston and 
Senator: WOODBURY of Cumberland, Representatives: CAREY of Lewiston, FREDETTE of 
Newport, HICKMAN of Winthrop, KESCHL of Belgrade. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  16 MRSA c. 3, sub-c. 10 is enacted to read: 
SUBCHAPTER 10 
ELECTRONIC DEVICE LOCATION INFORMATION 
§641.  Definitions 
As used in this subchapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following 
terms have the following meanings. 
1.  Adverse result.  "Adverse result" means: 
A.  Immediate danger of death or serious physical injury; 
B.  Flight from prosecution; 
C.  Destruction of or tampering with evidence; 
D.  Intimidation of a potential witness; 
E.  Substantially jeopardizes an investigation; or 
F.  Undue delay of a trial. 
2.  Electronic communication service.  "Electronic communication service" means a 
service that provides to users the ability to send or receive wire or electronic 
communications. 
3.  Electronic device.  "Electronic device" means a device that enables access to, or 
use of, an electronic communication service, remote computing service or location 
information service. 
4.  Government entity.  "Government entity" means a state or local agency, 
including but not limited to a law enforcement entity or any other investigative entity, 
agency, department, division, bureau, board or commission or an individual acting or 
purporting to act for or on behalf of a state or local agency. 
5.  Location information.  "Location information" means information concerning the 
location of an electronic device, including both the current location and any prior location 
of the device, that, in whole or in part, is generated, derived from or obtained by the 
operation of an electronic device. 
6.  Location information service.  "Location information service" means a global 
positioning service or other mapping, locational or directional information service. 
7.  Owner.  "Owner" means the person or entity having the legal title, claim or right 
to an electronic device. 
8.  Remote computing service.  "Remote computing service" means computer 
storage or processing services provided by means of an electronic communication 
service. 
9.  User.  "User" means a person or entity that uses an electronic device. 
§642.  Warrant needed for acquisition of location information 
Except as provided in this subchapter, a government entity may not obtain location 
information without a valid warrant issued by a duly authorized judge or justice using 
procedures established pursuant to Title 15, section 55. 
A judge or justice may issue a warrant for the location information of an electronic 
device pursuant to this section for a period of time necessary to achieve the objective of 
the authorization, but in any case the warrant is not valid for more than 10 days after the 
issuance. A judge or justice may grant an extension of a warrant upon a finding of 
continuing probable cause and a finding that the extension is necessary to achieve the 
objective of the authorization. An extension may not exceed 30 days. 
§643.  Notice 
Notice must be given to the owner or user of an electronic device whose location 
information was obtained by a government entity. 
1.  Timing and content of notice.  Unless delayed notice is ordered under subsection 
2, the government entity shall provide notice to the owner or user that location 
information was obtained by the government entity from that owner's or user's electronic 
device within 3 days of obtaining the location information.  The notice must be made by 
service or delivered by registered or first-class mail, e-mail or any other means 
reasonably calculated to be effective as specified by the court issuing the warrant.  The 
notice must contain the following information: 
A.  The nature of the law enforcement inquiry, with reasonable specificity; 
B.  The location information of the owner or user that was supplied to or requested by 
the government entity and the date on which it was provided or requested; 
C.  If location information was obtained from a provider of electronic communication 
service or location information service or other 3rd party, the identity of the provider 
of electronic communication service or location information service or the 3rd party 
from whom the information was obtained; and 
D.  Whether the notification was delayed pursuant to subsection 2 and, if so, the court 
that granted the delay and the reasons for granting the delay. 
2.  Delay of notification.  A government entity acting under section 642 or section 
may include in the application for a warrant a request for an order to delay the 
notification required under this section for a period not to exceed 90 days. The court shall 
issue the order if the court determines that there is reason to believe that notification may 
have an adverse result.  Upon expiration of the period of delay granted under this 
subsection and any extension granted under subsection 4, the government entity shall 
provide the owner or user a copy of the warrant together with a notice pursuant to 
subsection 1. 
3.  Preclusion of notice to owner or user subject to warrant for location 
information.  A government entity acting under section 642 or section 645 may include 
in its application for a warrant a request for an order directing a provider of electronic 
communication service or location information service to which a warrant is directed not 
to notify any other person of the existence of the warrant for a period of not more than 90 
days. The court shall issue the order if the court determines that there is reason to believe 
that notification of the existence of the warrant may have an adverse result. 
4.  Extension.  The court, upon application, may grant one or more extensions of 
orders granted under subsection 2 or 3 for up to an additional 90 days. 
§644.  Exceptions to warrant requirement   
When disclosure of location information is not prohibited by federal law, a 
government entity may obtain the location information without a warrant: 
1.  Emergency services.  To respond to the user's call for emergency services; 
2.  Consent of owner or user.  With the informed, affirmative consent of the owner 
or user of the electronic device concerned, except when the device is known or believed 
by the owner or user to be in the possession of a 3rd party known to the owner or user; 
3.  Consent of family member.  With the informed, affirmative consent of 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; or 
4.  Immediate danger of death or serious injury.  If the government entity 
reasonably believes that an emergency involving immediate danger of death or serious 
physical injury to a person requires the disclosure, without delay, of location information 
concerning a specific person and that a warrant cannot be obtained in time to prevent the 
identified danger, and the possessor of the location information, in good faith, believes 
that an emergency involving danger of death or serious physical injury to a person 
requires the disclosure without delay. 
No later than 48 hours after seeking disclosure pursuant to this subsection, the 
government entity seeking the location information shall file with the appropriate court a 
written statement setting forth the facts giving rise to the emergency and the facts as to 
why the person whose location information was sought is believed to be important in 
addressing the emergency. 
§645.  Designated law enforcement officer 
On a case-by-case basis and in accordance with this section, the Attorney General 
may designate an investigative or law enforcement officer who may acquire location 
information before obtaining a warrant. 
1.  Conditions.  A designated investigative or law enforcement officer may acquire 
location information only if the following conditions are met: 
A.  The officer cannot, with due diligence, obtain a warrant in time to address an 
emergency that involves immediate danger of death or serious physical injury or an 
imminent threat to national security; and 
B.  At the time the officer acquires location information, there exist grounds, known 
to or in the possession of the officer, upon which a warrant could be entered under 
this subchapter to authorize the acquisition. 
2.  Warrant after acquisition of location information.  A designated investigative 
or law enforcement officer who acquires location information before obtaining a warrant 
authorizing the acquisition must, within 48 hours after the acquisition occurs or begins to 
occur, obtain a warrant authorizing acquisition of the location information. 
3.  Termination of search.  In the absence of a warrant, acquisition of location 
information under this section must cease when the location information sought is 
obtained or when the application for a warrant is denied, whichever is earlier.  
4.  Denial of warrant.  In the event an application for a warrant under this section is 
denied, or in any other case in which the acquisition of location information is terminated 
without a warrant having been issued, the location information acquired must be treated 
as having been obtained in violation of this subchapter.  Notice must be served on the 
owner or user of an electronic device about which location information was acquired in 
accordance with section 643. 
§646.  Reporting requirements 
1.  Report by judge or justice.  No later than January 31st each year, a judge or 
justice who issues or denies a warrant under section 642 or section 645 during the 
preceding calendar year must report on each warrant to the Administrative Office of the 
Courts.  The report must include, but is not limited to: 
A.  The fact that the warrant was applied for; 
B.  The identity of the government entity that made the application; 
C.  The offense specified in the warrant or warrant application; 
D.  The nature of the facilities from which, the place where or the technique by which 
location information was to be obtained; 
E.  The expected number of electronic devices about which location information was 
to be obtained; 
F.  Whether the warrant was granted as applied for or was modified or denied; and 
G.  The period of disclosures authorized by the warrant, and the number and duration 
of any extensions of the warrant. 
2.  Report by Administrative Office of the Courts to Legislature.  In June of each 
year, beginning in 2014, the Administrative Office of the Courts shall submit to the 
Legislature a full and complete report concerning the number of applications for warrants 
authorizing or requiring the disclosure of location information pursuant to this 
subchapter, the number of times access to location information was obtained pursuant to 
section 644, subsection 4 and the number of warrants granted or denied pursuant to 
section 645 during the preceding calendar year.  The full and complete report must 
include a summary and analysis of the data required under this subsection. 
3.  Report publicly accessible.  In June of each year, beginning in 2014, the report 
summary under subsection 2 must be made publicly available on the judicial branch's 
publicly accessible website. 
The Administrative Office of the Courts may prescribe the content and form of the 
reports under this section. 
§647.  Conditions of use of location information 
1.  Use of location information obtained in violation of this subchapter not 
admissible.  Except as proof of a violation of this subchapter, evidence obtained in 
violation of this subchapter is not admissible in a criminal, civil, administrative or other 
proceeding. 
2.  Conditions of use of location information in proceeding.  Location information 
obtained pursuant to this subchapter or evidence derived from that information may be 
received in evidence or otherwise disclosed in a trial, hearing or other proceeding only if 
each party, not less than 10 days before the trial, hearing or proceeding, has been 
furnished with a copy of the warrant and accompanying application under which the 
information was obtained. 
3.  Ten-day requirement; exception.  The 10-day requirement under subsection 2 
may be waived if a judge makes a finding that it was not possible to provide a party with 
the warrant and accompanying application 10 days prior to a trial, hearing or proceeding 
and that the party will not be prejudiced by the delay in receiving the information. 
§648.  Action against a corporation 
This subchapter may not be construed to create a cause of action against a 
corporation or its officers, employees or agents for providing location information. 
SUMMARY 
This bill prohibits a government entity from obtaining the location information of a 
cellular telephone or other electronic device without a valid warrant, except that a 
government entity may obtain such information with the consent of the owner or user of 
the electronic device, to respond to the user's call for emergency services or to respond to 
certain emergency situations when a warrant cannot be issued in time to avert death or 
serious physical injury. It also authorizes the Attorney General to designate a law 
enforcement officer to obtain location information without a warrant in cases where there 
is an imminent threat of serious physical injury or a threat to national security. 
This bill requires a government entity to inform the owner or user of an electronic 
device that location information was obtained from that person's device within 3 days of 
obtaining the location information, unless the court determines there is good cause to 
delay this notification. 
This bill also requires judges involved with granting warrants to obtain location 
information to report their activities regarding the warrants to the Administrative Office 
of the Courts annually. It directs the Administrative Office of the Courts to provide a 
summary of those reports to the Legislature.