Alabama
| CITATION | Ala. Code § 13A-11-30 |
| SUMMARY |
Under Alabama law, unlawful eavesdropping, criminal surveillance, and divulging information obtained through these methods are misdemeanors carrying a maximum jail sentence of one year. Ala. Code § 13A-1-2. The eavesdropping statute criminalizes the use of “any device” to overhear or record communications, whether the eavesdropper is present or not, without the consent of at least one party engaged in the communication. Ala. Code § 13A-11-31. A person also cannot knowingly or recklessly divulge information obtained through illegal eavesdropping. Ala. Code § 13A-11-35. |
| CONSENT REQUIRED | 1 party to call. |
| PENALTIES |
A violation of the statute occurs when there is (1) a willful interception, (2) of oral communications uttered by a person exhibiting an expectation that the communication would be in private, (3) and communication is made under circumstances justifying an expectation of privacy. Ages Group, L.P. v. Raytheon Aircraft Co., Inc., 22 F.Supp.2d 1310 (M.D. Ala. 1998). Conviction is a misdemeanor carrying a maximum jail sentence of 1 year. |
