# 18 Pa.C.S. § 5702: Definitions > Pennsylvania · Statutes · In force URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_PA_T18_C57_S5702 ## Section - **Citation:** 18 Pa.C.S. § 5702 - **Heading:** Definitions - **Jurisdiction:** Pennsylvania - **Kind:** Statutes - **Status:** In force - **Text as of:** August 14, 2026 - **Source:** Compiled text - **Location:** PA Code / Title 18 / Chapter 57 / Section 5702 ## Text As used in this chapter, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise: "Aggrieved person." A person who was a party to any intercepted wire, electronic or oral communication or a person against whom the interception was directed. "Aural transfer." A transfer containing the human voice at any point between and including the point of origin and the point of reception. "Communication common carrier." Any person engaged as a common carrier for hire, in intrastate, interstate or foreign communication by wire or radio or in intrastate, interstate or foreign radio transmission of energy; however, a person engaged in radio broadcasting shall not, while so engaged, be deemed a common carrier. "Communication service." Any service which provides to users the ability to send or receive wire or electronic communications. "Communication system." Any wire, radio, electromagnetic, photo-optical or photoelectronic facilities for the transmission of communications and any computer facilities or related electronic equipment for the electronic storage of such communications. "Contents." As used with respect to any wire, electronic or oral communication, is any information concerning the substance, purport, or meaning of that communication. "Court." The Superior Court. For the purposes of Subchapter C only, the term shall mean the court of common pleas. "Crime of violence." Any of the following: (1) Any of the following crimes: (i) Murder in any degree as defined in section 2502(a), (b) or (c) (relating to murder). (ii) Voluntary manslaughter as defined in section 2503 (relating to voluntary manslaughter), drug delivery resulting in death as defined in section 2506(a) relating to drug delivery resulting in death), aggravated assault as defined in section 2702(a)(1) or (2) (relating to aggravated assault), 2718 (relating to strangulation), kidnapping as defined in section 2901(a) or (a.1) (relating to kidnapping), rape as defined in section 3121(a), (c) or (d) (relating to rape), involuntary deviate sexual intercourse as defined in section 3123(a), (b) or (c) (relating to involuntary deviate sexual intercourse), sexual assault as defined in section 3124.1 (relating to sexual assault), aggravated indecent assault as defined in section 3125(a) or (b) (relating to aggravated indecent assault), incest as defined in section 4302(a) or (b) (relating to incest), arson as defined in section 3301(a) (relating to arson and related offenses), burglary as defined in section 3502(a)(1) (relating to burglary), robbery as defined in section 3701(a)(1)(i), (ii) or (iii) (relating to robbery) or robbery of a motor vehicle as defined in section 3702(a) (relating to robbery of motor vehicle). (iii) Intimidation of witness or victim as defined in section 4952(a) and (b) (relating to intimidation of witnesses or victims). (iv) Retaliation against witness, victim or party as defined in section 4953(a) and (b) (relating to retaliation against witness, victim or party). relating to robbery) or robbery of a motor vehicle as defined in section 3702(a) (relating to robbery of motor vehicle). (iii) Intimidation of witness or victim as defined in section 4952(a) and (b) (relating to intimidation of witnesses or victims). (iv) Retaliation against witness, victim or party as defined in section 4953(a) and (b) (relating to retaliation against witness, victim or party). (v) Criminal attempt as defined in section 901(a) (relating to criminal attempt), criminal solicitation as defined in section 902(a) (relating to criminal solicitation) or criminal conspiracy as defined in section 903(a) (relating to criminal conspiracy) to commit any of the offenses specified in this definition. (2) Any offense equivalent to an offense under paragraph (1) under the laws of this Commonwealth in effect at the time of the commission of that offense or under the laws of another jurisdiction. "Electronic communication." Any transfer of signs, signals, writing, images, sounds, data or intelligence of any nature transmitted in whole or in part by a wire, radio, electromagnetic, photoelectronic or photo-optical system, except: (1) (Deleted by amendment). (2) Any wire or oral communication. (3) Any communication made through a tone-only paging device. (4) Any communication from a tracking device (as defined in this section). "Electronic communication service." (Deleted by amendment). "Electronic communication system." (Deleted by amendment). "Electronic, mechanical or other device." Any device or apparatus, including, but not limited to, an induction coil or a telecommunication identification interception device, that can be used to intercept a wire, electronic or oral communication other than: (1) Any telephone or telegraph instrument, equipment or facility, or any component thereof, furnished to the subscriber or user by a provider of wire or electronic communication service in the ordinary course of its business, or furnished by such subscriber or user for connection to the facilities of such service and used in the ordinary course of its business, or being used by a communication common carrier in the ordinary course of its business, or by an investigative or law enforcement officer in the ordinary course of his duties. (2) A hearing aid or similar device being used to correct subnormal hearing to not better than normal. (3) Equipment or devices used to conduct interceptions under section 5704(15) (relating to exceptions to prohibition of interception and disclosure of communications). "Electronic storage." (1) Any temporary, intermediate storage of a wire or electronic communication incidental to the electronic transmission thereof. (2) Any storage of such a communication by an electronic communication service for purpose of backup protection of the communication. "Home." The residence of a nonconsenting party to an interception, provided that access to the residence is not generally permitted to members of the public and the party has a reasonable expectation of privacy in the residence under the circumstances. "In-progress trace." The determination of the origin of a telephonic communication to a known telephone during an interception. he communication. "Home." The residence of a nonconsenting party to an interception, provided that access to the residence is not generally permitted to members of the public and the party has a reasonable expectation of privacy in the residence under the circumstances. "In-progress trace." The determination of the origin of a telephonic communication to a known telephone during an interception. "Intercept." Aural or other acquisition of the contents of any wire, electronic or oral communication through the use of any electronic, mechanical or other device. The term shall include the point at which the contents of the communication are monitored by investigative or law enforcement officers. The term shall not include the acquisition of the contents of a communication made through any electronic, mechanical or other device or telephone instrument to an investigative or law enforcement officer, or between a person and an investigative or law enforcement officer, where the investigative or law enforcement officer poses as an actual person who is the intended recipient of the communication, provided that the Attorney General, a deputy attorney general designated in writing by the Attorney General, a district attorney or an assistant district attorney designated in writing by a district attorney of the county wherein the investigative or law enforcement officer is to receive or make the communication has reviewed the facts and is satisfied that the communication involves suspected criminal activities and has given prior approval for the communication. "Investigative or law enforcement officer." Any officer of the United States, of another state or political subdivision thereof or of the Commonwealth or political subdivision thereof, who is empowered by law to conduct investigations of or to make arrests for offenses enumerated in this chapter or an equivalent crime in another jurisdiction, and any attorney authorized by law to prosecute or participate in the prosecution of such offense. "Judge." When referring to a judge authorized to receive applications for, and to enter, orders authorizing interceptions of wire, electronic or oral communications pursuant to ## Nearby sections - [18 Pa.C.S. § 5701 Short title of chapter.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_PA_T18_C57_S5701.md) - [18 Pa.C.S. § 5702 Definitions.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_PA_T18_C57_S5702.md) - [18 Pa.C.S. § 5703 Interception, disclosure or use of wire, electronic or oral communications.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_PA_T18_C57_S5703.md) - [18 Pa.C.S. § 5704 Exceptions to prohibition of interception and disclosure of communications.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_PA_T18_C57_S5704.md) - [18 Pa.C.S. § 5705 Possession, sale, distribution, manufacture or advertisement of electronic, mechanical or other devices and telecommunication identification interception devices.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_PA_T18_C57_S5705.md) - [18 Pa.C.S. § 5706 Exceptions to prohibitions in possession, sale, distribution, manufacture or advertisement of electronic, mechanical or other devices.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_PA_T18_C57_S5706.md) - [18 Pa.C.S. § 5707 Seizure and forfeiture of electronic, mechanical or other devices.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_PA_T18_C57_S5707.md) - [18 Pa.C.S. § 5708 Order authorizing interception of wire, electronic or oral communications.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_PA_T18_C57_S5708.md) - [18 Pa.C.S. § 5709 Application for order.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_PA_T18_C57_S5709.md) - [18 Pa.C.S. § 5710 Grounds for entry of order.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_PA_T18_C57_S5710.md) - [18 Pa.C.S. § 5711 Privileged communications.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_PA_T18_C57_S5711.md) - [18 Pa.C.S. § 5712 Issuance of order and effect.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_PA_T18_C57_S5712.md) - [18 Pa.C.S. § 5712.1 Target-specific orders.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_PA_T18_C57_S5712.1.md) - [18 Pa.C.S. § 5713 Emergency situations.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_PA_T18_C57_S5713.md) --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_PA_T18_C57_S5702. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.