Senate OKs Easing of Restriction on Roving Wiretaps
Federal law enforcement officers will find it easier to tap any phones used by suspected criminals under a bill passed Thursday by the Senate.
The measure involving so-called roving wiretaps is contained in a bill authorizing intelligence programs. The House passed the bill Wednesday and Clinton is expected to sign it.
Under a roving wiretap, a law enforcer can eavesdrop on the conversations of a suspected criminal using any phone. A regular wiretap, in contrast, permits eavesdropping only on a specific phone.
Federal law enforcers have had the ability to conduct court-authorized roving wiretaps since 1986. Under the bill passed Thursday, the FBI and other federal law enforcement agencies will no longer have to first show that a suspect is deliberately switching phones to skirt a regular wiretap.
In 1997, the most recent figures available, 12 roving wiretaps were issued: four by federal judges and eight by state and local judges.
With roving wiretaps, the court order covers the person, not the phone, as is the case with a regular wiretap.
Supporters of the measure pointed out that federal officers will be restricted to tapping a phone only when the suspect is using it.
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