Opinion ID: 2189915
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Constitutionality of SDCL Chapter 23A-35A

Text: O'Connor contends that his conviction should be reversed because evidence was secured with a court authorized wire tap pursuant to an unconstitutional state statute. Specifically, he contends that the state statute is invalid because it is less restrictive than federal law. 18 U.S.C. 2510. He argues that the South Dakota provisions are less restrictive in three areas: 1. Under federal law, the wire tap documents must be maintained for 10 years and no such South Dakota provision exists; 2. Under federal law, the defendant must receive copies of the wire tap documents ten days prior to trial and no such South Dakota provision exists; 3. Under federal law, an exclusionary rule exists, but no such rule exists under South Dakota law. O'Connor argues that State v. Farha, 218 Kan. 394, 544 P.2d 341 (1975); and State v. Dowdy, 222 Kan. 118, 563 P.2d 425 (1977), control this issue. We do not agree with the reasoning or holding of the Kansas courts. Instead, we adopt the reasoning and holding of the courts of Maryland and Arizona. State v. Siegel, 266 Md. 256, 292 A.2d 86 (1972); State v. Politte, 136 Ariz. 117, 664 P.2d 661 (1982). Siegel and Politte both held their statutes constitutional. Siegel held, [W]hether each of their terms [federal v. state provisions] relating to the application or grant of an order is constitutional, vel non is of no consequence. Once the hurdle of finding an applicable Maryland law authorizing interception is overcome, compliance must be had with whichever law is more constricting, be it federal or state. 292 A.2d at 95. SDCL 23A-35A authorizes oral and wire communication interception. As a result, compliance must be had with whichever law is more constricting, be it federal or state. In effect, O'Connor is arguing that the South Dakota provisions do not provide for a number of federal requirements. What he fails to ascertain is that even if the South Dakota statute is silent concerning those requirements, the reviewing court must look to determine if the state complied with the federal statute. Here the federal requirements were followed. The wire tap documents have not been destroyed thus allowing the maintenance of the documents for ten years pursuant to federal statute; O'Connor received the wire tap documents more than ten days prior to trial according to federal statute; and the federal exclusionary rule was applied in these proceedings. Therefore, we reject O'Connor's arguments that South Dakota Chapter 23A-35A is unconstitutional.