Cite as: 21 CNCA § 747

A. The supervising law enforcement official having jurisdiction in the geographical area where hostages are held who has probable cause to believe that the holder of one or more hostages is committing a crime shall have the authority to order a telephone company to arrange to cut, reroute or divert telephone lines in any emergency in which such hostages are being held, for the purpose of preventing telephone communication by the holder of such hostages with any person other than a peace officer or a person authorized by the peace officer.

B. The serving telephone company within the geographical area of a law enforcement unit shall designate appropriate telephone company management employees to provide, or cause to be provided, all required assistance to law enforcement officials to carry out the purposes of this section.

C. Good faith reliance on an order by a supervising law enforcement official pursuant to this section, shall constitute a complete defense to any civil or criminal action brought against a telephone company, its agents or employees, as a result of compliance with said order.

Historical Data

LA 10–90, eff. November 13, 1990.