Penal Law § 250.25

Tampering with private communications · as in force on May 31, 2026

§ 250.25 Tampering with private communications.

A person is guilty of tampering with private communications when:

1. Knowing that he does not have the consent of the sender or receiver, he opens or reads a sealed letter or other sealed private communication; or

2. Knowing that a sealed letter or other sealed private communication has been opened or read in violation of subdivision one of this section, he divulges without the consent of the sender or receiver, the contents of such letter or communication, in whole or in part, or a resume of any portion of the contents thereof; or

3. Knowing that he does not have the consent of the sender or receiver, he obtains or attempts to obtain from an employee, officer or representative of a telephone or telegraph corporation, by connivance, deception, intimidation or in any other manner, information with respect to the contents or nature thereof of a telephonic or telegraphic communication; except that the provisions of this subdivision do not apply to a law enforcement officer who obtains information from a telephone or telegraph corporation pursuant to section 250.35; or

4. Knowing that he does not have the consent of the sender or receiver, and being an employee, officer or representative of a telephone or telegraph corporation, he knowingly divulges to another person the contents or nature thereof of a telephonic or telegraphic communication; except that the provisions of this subdivision do not apply to such person when he acts pursuant to section 250.35.

Tampering with private communications is a class B misdemeanor.

Official sourcehttps://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/PEN/250.25

In plain English

Opening, reading or leaking private mail or phone communications without consent is a crime.

(1) Knowing he lacks the consent of the sender or receiver, a person opens or reads a sealed letter or other sealed private communication;
(2) Knowing a sealed communication was opened or read in violation of (1), a person divulges its contents, in whole or in part, or a summary of any part, without the sender's or receiver's consent;
(3) Knowing he lacks consent, a person obtains or tries to obtain from a telephone or telegraph company employee, officer or representative, by connivance, deception, intimidation or in any other manner, information about the contents or nature of a telephone or telegraph communication; this does not apply to a law enforcement officer obtaining information under § 250.35; or
(4) Knowing he lacks consent, a telephone or telegraph company employee, officer or representative knowingly divulges the contents or nature of a telephone or telegraph communication, except when acting under § 250.35. ★

The offense is a class B misdemeanor. ★

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 4 — The Court Clerk: Penal Law; Volume 1 — The Court Officer in Plain English; Volume 3 — The Court Officer: Penal Law; Volume 3 — Your Career: Penal Law in Plain English.