Subdivision 1. Acts; penalties. Except as otherwise specifically provided in this chapter, any person who intentionally:

(a) manufactures, assembles, possesses, or sells any electronic, mechanical, or other device, knowing or having reason to know that the design of such device renders it primarily useful for the purpose of the surreptitious interception of wire, electronic, or oral communications;

(b) places in any newspaper, magazine, handbill, or other publication any advertisement of:

(i) any electronic, mechanical, or other device knowing or having reason to know that the design of such device renders it primarily useful for the purpose of the surreptitious interception of wire, electronic, or oral communications; or

(ii) any other electronic, mechanical, or other device, where such advertisement promotes the use of such device for the purposes of the surreptitious interception of wire, electronic, or oral communications,

shall be fined not more than $20,000 or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.

Subd. 2. Offenses. It is not unlawful under this section for:

(a) a provider of wire or electronic communications service or an officer, agent or employee of, or a person under contract with, a provider, in the normal course of the business of providing that wire or electronic communications service; or

(b) an officer, agent, or employee of, or a person under contract with, the United States, a state, or a political subdivision thereof, in the normal course of the activities of the United States, a state, or a political subdivision thereof, to manufacture, assemble, possess, or sell any electronic, mechanical, or other device knowing or having reason to know that the design of such device renders it primarily useful for the purpose of the surreptitious interception of wire, electronic, or oral communication.

History: 1969 c 953 s 3; 1984 c 628 art 3 s 11; 1988 c 577 s 19,20,62; 1989 c 336 art 2 s 8; 1991 c 199 art 2 s 1