CPL § 700.10

Eavesdropping and video surveillance warrants; in general · as in force on May 31, 2026

§ 700.10 Eavesdropping and video surveillance warrants; in general.

1. Under circumstances prescribed in this article, a justice may issue an eavesdropping warrant or a video surveillance warrant upon ex parte application of an applicant who is authorized by law to investigate, prosecute or participate in the prosecution of the particular designated offense which is the subject of the application.

2. No eavesdropping or video surveillance warrant may authorize or approve the interception of any communication or the conducting of any video surveillance for any period longer than is necessary to achieve the objective of the authorization, or in any event longer than thirty days. Such thirty day period shall begin on the date designated in the warrant as the effective date, which date may be no later than ten days after the warrant is issued.

Official sourcehttps://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/CPL/700.10

In plain English

A justice may issue an eavesdropping or video-surveillance warrant on an authorized applicant’s ex parte application concerning a designated offense the applicant may investigate or prosecute.

(1) The application and warrant must satisfy this article.
(2) Surveillance may last only as long as needed and never more than 30 days. The 30 days begin on the warrant’s named effective date, which must be no later than 10 days after issuance. ★

Marked in the text: penalties, time limits, sums of money. Editorial emphasis added by this edition; it does not appear in the statute as enacted.

In print

This provision appears in Volume 1 — The Court Officer in Plain English; Volume 2 — The Court Officer: Criminal Procedure Law; Volume 2 — Your Career: Criminal Procedure in Plain English.