US Laws, Codes, Statutes & Cases

(a) A person does not commit a crime under this article if:

(1) He was a peace officer engaged in the lawful performance of his duties; or

(2) He was an officer, employee or agent of a communication common carrier who, while acting in the normal course of his employment, and while engaged in any activity which was a necessary incident to the rendition of his service or to the protection of the rights or property of the carrier of such communication, intercepted, disclosed or used a communication transmitted through the facilities of that carrier; or

(3) He relies in good faith on a lawful court order or legislative authorization.

(b) The burden of injecting the issue under subsection (a) is on the defendant, but this does not shift the burden of proof.

(Acts 1977, No. 607, p. 812, §5630.)