Court orders for criminal investigations for records concerning an electronic communications system or service or remote computing service -- Content -- Fee for providing information.
Utah Code § 77-22-2.5
in effect77-22-2.5. Court orders for criminal investigations for records concerning an electronic communications system or service or remote computing service -- Content -- Fee for providing information.
(1) As used in this section:
(a)
(i) "Electronic communication" means any transfer of signs, signals, writing, images, sounds, data, or intelligence of any nature transmitted in whole or in part by a wire, radio, electromagnetic, photoelectronic, or photooptical system.
(ii) "Electronic communication" does not include:
(A) a wire or oral communication;
(B) a communication made through a tone-only paging device;
(C) a communication from a tracking device; or
(D) electronic funds transfer information stored by a financial institution in a communications system used for the electronic storage and transfer of funds.
(b) "Electronic communications service" means a service which provides for users the ability to send or receive wire or electronic communications.
(c) "Electronic communications system" means a wire, radio, electromagnetic, photooptical, or photoelectronic facilities for the transmission of wire or electronic communications, and a computer facilities or related electronic equipment for the electronic storage of the communication.
(d) "Internet service provider" means the same as that term is defined in Section 76-5c-401.
(e) "Prosecutor" means the same as that term is defined in Section 77-22-4.5.
(f) "Remote computing service" means the provision to the public of computer storage or processing services by means of an electronic communications system.
(g)
(i) "Sexual offense against a minor" means:
(A) sexual exploitation of a minor or attempted sexual exploitation of a minor in violation of Section 76-5b-201;
(B) aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor or attempted aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor in violation of Section 76-5b-201.1;
(C) a sexual offense or attempted sexual offense committed against a minor in violation of Title 76, Chapter 5, Part 4, Sexual Offenses;
(D) dealing in or attempting to deal in material harmful to a minor in violation of Section 76-5c-205 or 76-5c-206;
(E) human trafficking of a child for commercial sexual exploitation in violation of Section 76-5-308.6; or
(F) aggravated sexual extortion of a child in violation of Section 76-5b-204.1.
(ii) "Sexual offense against a minor" does not include an offense described in Section 76-5-418, 76-5-419, or 76-5-420.
(2) When a law enforcement agency is investigating a sexual offense against a minor, an offense of stalking under Section 76-5-106.5, or an offense of child kidnapping under Section 76-5-301.1, and has reasonable suspicion that an electronic communications system or service or remote computing service has been used in the commission of a criminal offense, a law enforcement agent shall:
(a) articulate specific facts showing reasonable grounds to believe that the records or other information sought, as designated in Subsections (2)(c)(i) through (v), are relevant and material to an ongoing investigation;
(b) present the request to a prosecutor for review and authorization to proceed; and
(c) submit the request to a magistrate for a court order, in accordance with 18 U.S.C. Sec. 2703 and 18 U.S.C. Sec. 2702, to the electronic communications system or service or remote computing service provider that owns or controls the internet protocol address, websites, email address, or service to a specific telephone number, requiring the production of the following information, if available, upon providing in the court order the internet protocol address, email address, telephone number, or other identifier, and the dates and times the address, telephone number, or other identifier is suspected of being used in the commission of the offense:
(i) names of subscribers, service customers, and users;
(ii) addresses of subscribers, service customers, and users;
(iii) records of session times and durations;
(iv) length of service, including the start date and types of service utilized; and
(v) telephone or other instrument subscriber numbers or other subscriber identifiers, including a temporarily assigned network address.
(3) A court order issued under this section shall state that the electronic communications system or service or remote computing service provider shall produce a record under Subsections (2)(c)(i) through (v) that is reasonably relevant to the investigation of the suspected criminal activity or offense as described in the court order.
(4)
(a) An electronic communications system or service or remote computing service provider that provides information in response to a court order issued under this section may charge a fee, not to exceed the actual cost, for providing the information.
(b) The law enforcement agency conducting the investigation shall pay the fee.
(5) The electronic communications system or service or remote computing service provider served with or responding to the court order may not disclose the court order to the account holder identified in accordance with the court order for a period of 90 days.
(6) If the electronic communications system or service or remote computing service provider served with the court order does not own or control the internet protocol address, websites, or email address, or provide service for the telephone number that is the subject of the court order, the provider shall notify the investigating law enforcement agency that the provider does not have the information.
(7) There is no cause of action against a provider or wire or electronic communication service, or the provider or service's officers, employees, agents, or other specified persons, for providing information, facilities, or assistance in accordance with the terms of the court order issued under this section or statutory authorization.
(8)
(a) A court order issued under this section is subject to the provisions of Chapter 23b, Access to Electronic Communications.
(b) Rights and remedies for providers and subscribers under Chapter 23b, Access to Electronic Communications, apply to providers and subscribers subject to a court order issued under this section.
(9) A prosecutorial agency shall annually on or before February 15 report to the Department of Criminal Justice:
(a) the number of requests for court orders authorized by the prosecutorial agency;
(b) the number of orders issued by the court and the criminal offense, described in Subsection (2), each order was used to investigate; and
(c) if the court order led to criminal charges being filed, the type and number of offenses charged.
Amended by Chapter 291, 2026 General Session
Source: Utah Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel (le.utah.gov)URL: https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title77/Chapter22/77-22-S2.5.html?v=C77-22-S2.5_2026050620260701Fetched: 10/26/2026