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8 LONG TITLE
9 General Description:
10 This bill modifies the Utah Criminal Code regarding telephone and VoIP
11 communications.
12 Highlighted Provisions:
13 This bill:
14 ▸ prohibits making telephone calls or text messages that provide false or inaccurate
15 caller or text message identification information with the intent to mislead;
16 ▸ provides that a violation is a class B misdemeanor; and
17 ▸ provides that the recipient of the call or text may bring a civil action for damages.
18 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
19 None
20 Other Special Clauses:
21 None
22 Utah Code Sections Affected:
23 ENACTS:
24 76-10-1802, Utah Code Annotated 1953
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26 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
27 Section 1. Section 76-10-1802 is enacted to read:
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29 76-10-1802. Misrepresentation of call or text communication identification.
30 (1) As used in this section:
31 (a) "Caller or text message identification information" means information provided by
32 a caller identification service or text message service regarding the telephone number or other
33 information regarding the origination of a call or text message made using a
34 telecommunications service or VoIP voice service.
35 (b) "Caller or text message identification service" means any service or device
36 designed to provide the user of the service or device with the telephone number of, or other
37 information regarding, the origination of a call or text message made using a
38 telecommunications service or VoIP voice service, including automatic number identification
39 services.
40 (c) "Text message":
41 (i) means a real-time or near real-time message consisting of text, images, sounds, or
42 other information transmitted from or received by a device identified by a telephone number;
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44 (ii) does not include a real-time, two-way voice or video communication.
45 (d) "VoIP" means a technology that allows telephone calls to be made over computer
46 networks, including the Internet.
47 (2) It is unlawful for any person or individual, in connection with any
48 telecommunications service or VoIP voice service, to knowingly cause any caller identification
49 service or text message service to transmit false, misleading, or inaccurate caller or text
50 message identification information with the intent to deceive the recipient of the call or text
51 message.
52 (3) This section does not prevent or restrict any person or individual from blocking the
53 capability of any caller or text message identification service to transmit caller or text message
54 identification information.
55 (4) The following are exempt from this section:
56 (a) the lawful investigative, protective, or intelligence activity of a law enforcement
57 agency; and
58 (b) a court order that specifically authorizes the use of caller or text message
59 identification manipulation.
60 (5) Each separate call, message, or text message transmitted in violation of this section
61 is a class B misdemeanor.
62 (6) Violations may be enforced in a civil action initiated by the recipient of a call,
63 message, or text message made in violation of this section, a criminal action initiated by a
64 prosecuting attorney, or both.
Legislative Review Note
as of 1-29-15 9:40 AM
Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel