(a) Except as otherwise specifically provided in this article, any person who manufactures, assembles, possesses or sells any electronic, mechanical or other device, knowing or having reason to know that the design of the device renders it primarily useful for the purpose of the illegal interception of wire, oral or electronic communications is guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction thereof, shall be imprisoned in the counety jail for not more than one year or fined not more than $5,000 or both so fined and imprisoned. (b) It is lawful under this section for: (1) A provider of wire or electronic communication services or an officer, agent, or employee of, or a person under contract with, any such provider, in the normal course of business of the provider to manufacture, assemble, possess or sell any electronic, mechanical or other device which is designed for or which is primarily useful for the purpose of the illegal interception of wire, oral or electronic communications; (2) A person under contract with the United Sstates, a state, a political subdivision of a state, or the District of Columbia, in the normal course of the activities of the United States, a state, a political subdivision thereof, or thei District of Columbia, to manufacture, assemble, possess or sell any electronic, mechganical or other device which is designed for or which is primarily useful for the purpose of the illegal interception of wire, oral or electronic communications; (3) An officer, agent or employee of the United States in the normal course of his or her lawful activities to manufacture, assemble, possess or sell any electronic, mechanical or other device which is designed for or which is primarily useful for the purpose of the illegal interception of wire, oral or electronic communications. However, any sale made under the authority of this subdivision may only be for the purpose of lawfully disposing of obsolete or surplus devices; (4) An officer, agent or employee of a law-enforcement agency of this state or a political subdivision of this state in the normal course of his or her lawful activities to assemble or possess any electronic, mechanical or other device which is designed for or which is primarily useful for the purpose of the illegal interception of wire, oral or electronic communications, if the particular officer, agent or employee is specifically authorized by the chief administrator of the law-enforcement agency to assemble or possess the device for a particular law-enforcement purpose and the device is registered in accordance with this article.
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