53-25-1202. Law enforcement officer prohibition on tampering with a private surveillance camera -- Exceptions.

336 words·~2 min read·/ut/title-53/chapter-25/53-25-1202

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

Effective 5/6/2026

(1)Except as provided in Subsection

(2)or (4), a law enforcement officer, or an individual acting on behalf of a law enforcement officer, may not tamper with, change the viewing direction of, or disable a person's surveillance camera that is on the person's private property.

(2)Subsection

(1)does not apply if the law enforcement officer, or the individual acting on behalf of a law enforcement officer:

(a)obtains the person's permission before taking the action described in Subsection

(1);

(b)obtains a court order granting permission to take the action described in Subsection

(1)before taking the action described in Subsection

(1); or

(c)takes the action described in Subsection

(1)under a circumstance described in Subsection (3)(a) if the law enforcement officer, or the individual acting on behalf of a law enforcement officer, subsequently takes an action described in Subsection (3)(b) .

(a)The circumstances described in Subsection (2)(c) are:

(i)the existence of exigent circumstances; or

(ii)to protect a law enforcement officer's safety:

(A)while executing a warrant; or

(B)if the circumstances, as known to the law enforcement officer, present a real, articulable risk to the law enforcement officer's safety.

(b)The subsequent actions described in Subsection (2)(c) are:

(i)notifying the affected person within 24 hours after:

(A)the exigent circumstances no longer exist;

(B)the warrant described in Subsection (3)(a)(ii)(A) has been served; or

(C)the circumstances described in Subsection (3)(a)(ii)(B) have been resolved; or

(ii)obtaining a court order as soon as practicable after the circumstance described in Subsection (3)(a) no longer exists, and if a court refuses to issue a court order, informing the person about the action taken on the surveillance camera within 24 hours after the court's refusal.

(4)This section does not apply to a camera that is used for the surveillance or taking of wildlife.

Enacted by Chapter 268 , 2026 General Session