Oregon Revised Statutes

Or. Rev. Stat. § 133.724 (2026)

Order for interception of communications; application; grounds for issuance; contents of order; progress reports

✓ current as of May 2026
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      133.724 Order for interception of communications; application; grounds for issuance; contents of order; progress reports. (1) An ex parte order for the interception of wire, electronic or oral communications may be issued by any circuit court judge upon written application made upon oath or affirmation of the individual who is the district attorney or a deputy district attorney authorized by the district attorney for the county in which the order is sought. The application shall include:

      (a) The name of the district attorney or the deputy district attorney making the application and the authority of the district attorney or the deputy district attorney to make the application;

      (b) The identity of the investigative or law enforcement officer making the application and the officer authorizing the application;

      (c) A statement demonstrating that there is probable cause to believe that an individual is committing, has committed or is about to commit:

      (A) A particular felony of murder, kidnapping, arson, robbery, bribery, extortion or other crime dangerous to life and punishable as a felony;

      (B) A crime punishable as a felony under ORS 163.266 (1)(b) or (c), 163.413, 166.720, 167.012, 167.017, 475.752, 475.786 to 475.894 or 475.904 to 475.910 or as a misdemeanor under ORS 167.007 or 167.008; or

      (C) Any conspiracy to commit any of the foregoing crimes;

      (d) A statement of the details, if known, of the particular crime alleged under paragraph (c) of this subsection;

      (e) A particular description of the nature and location of the facilities from which or the place where the wire, electronic or oral communication is to be intercepted, if known;

      (f) A particular description of the type of wire, electronic or oral communication sought to be intercepted;

      (g) The identity of the person, if known, suspected of committing the crime and whose wire, electronic or oral communications are to be intercepted;

      (h) A full and complete statement as to whether or not other investigative procedures have been tried and failed or why other investigative procedures reasonably appear to be unlikely to succeed if tried or are likely to be too dangerous;

      (i) A statement of the period of time for which the interception is required to be maintained. If the nature of the investigation is such that the authorization for interception should not automatically terminate when the described type of wire, electronic or oral communication has been first obtained, a description of facts establishing probable cause to believe that additional communications of the same type will occur thereafter;

      (j) A statement as to whether any prior application has been made to intercept wire, electronic or oral communications from the same person and, if such prior application exists, a statement of the current status of that application; and

      (k) Where the application is for the extension of an existing order, a statement setting forth the results thus far obtained from the interception, or a reasonable explanation of the failure to obtain such results.

      (2) The judge may require the applicant to furnish further testimony or documentary evidence in support of the application.

      (3) Upon examination of such application and evidence the judge may enter an ex parte order, as requested or as modified, authorizing or approving interception of wire, electronic or oral communications within the state if the judge determines on the basis of the facts submitted by the applicant that:

      (a) There is probable cause for belief that an individual is committing, has committed or is about to commit a particular crime described in subsection (1)(c) of this section;

      (b) There is probable cause for belief that particular communications concerning that crime will be obtained through such interception;

      (c) Normal investigative procedures have been tried and have failed or reasonably appear to be unlikely to succeed if tried or are likely to be too dangerous; and

      (d) There is probable cause for belief that the facilities from which, or the place where, the wire, electronic or oral communications to be intercepted are being used, or are about to be used, in connection with the planning or the commission of that crime are open to the public or are owned by, leased to, listed in the name of, or commonly used by the individual suspected.

      (4) Each order authorizing or approving the interception of any wire, electronic or oral communication shall specify:

      (a) The identity of the person, if known, whose communications are to be intercepted;

      (b) The nature and location of the communications facilities as to which, or the place where, authority to intercept is granted;

      (c) A particular description of the type of communication sought to be intercepted, and a statement of the particular crime to which it relates;

      (d) The identity of the agency authorized to intercept the communications and of the person authorizing the application;

      (e) The period of time during which such interception is authorized, including a statement as to whether or not the interception shall automatically terminate when the described communication has been first obtained; and

      (f) The name of the applicant, date of issuance, and the signature and title of the issuing judge.

      (5) An order entered pursuant to this section may not authorize or approve the interception of any wire, electronic or oral communication for any period longer than is necessary to achieve the objective of authorization and in no event for longer than 30 days. Extensions of any order may be granted, but only when application for an extension is made in accordance with subsection (1)(k) of this section and the court makes the findings required by subsection (3) of this section. The period of extension shall be no longer than the authorizing judge deems necessary to achieve the purpose for which it is granted and in no event for longer than 30 days. Every order and extension of that order shall contain a provision that the authorization to intercept must be executed as soon as practicable, must be conducted in such a way as to minimize the interception of communications not otherwise subject to interception, and must terminate upon attainment of the authorized objective, or in any event in 30 days.

      (6) Whenever an order authorizing interception is entered pursuant to this section, the order may require reports to be made to the judge who issued the order showing what progress has been made toward achievement of the authorized objective and the need for continued interception. Such reports shall be made at such intervals as the judge may require. [1979 c.716 §4 (enacted in lieu of 133.725); 1989 c.639 §1; 1989 c.983 §7a; 1995 c.224 §1; 2001 c.385 §6; 2005 c.708 §45; 2007 c.442 §1; 2011 c.151 §8; 2013 c.720 §6]

 

      133.725 [Formerly 141.720; repealed by 1979 c.716 §3 (133.724 enacted in lieu of 133.725)]

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 49 cases (3 in the last 5 years), 1982–2024 · leading case: State v. Pottle, 677 P.2d 1 (Or. 1984).
State v. Pottle, 677 P.2d 1 (Or. 1984). · cites it 70× “735 provides for the suppression of intercepted communications: "(1) Any aggrieved person in any trial, hearing or proceeding in or before any court, department, officer, agency, regulatory body or other authority of the state, or a political subdivision thereof, may move to…”
State v. Fleetwood, 16 P.3d 503 (Or. 2000). · cites it 28× “The first statute is ORS 133.724, which provides, in part: “(1) An ex parte order for the interception of wire, electronic or oral communications may be issued by any circuit court judge upon written application made upon oath or affirmation of the individual who is the district…”
State v. Stockfleth, 804 P.2d 471 (Or. 1991). · cites it 23× “3 ORS 133.724. 4 The trial court suppressed the conversations obtained from the wiretaps.”
State v. Klein, 283 P.3d 350 (Or. 2012). · cites it 7× “Based in part on those conversations, the police obtained a wiretap order under ORS 133.724, which authorized the interception of communications made by defendant on his mobile phone.”
State v. Miskell, 277 P.3d 522 (Or. 2012). · cites it 11× “540, which the statute expressly recognizes in the introductory phrase: “Except as otherwise provided in ORS 133.724 and ORS 133.726 or subsection (2) to (7) of this section * * The two exceptions that are relevant in this case, ORS 133.”
State v. Lissy, 747 P.2d 345 (Or. 1987). · cites it 11× “The obtaining of wire communications must be through orders that confirm [sic] to ORS 133.724. As this was not done in the present case, the telephone conversations should be suppressed.”
State v. Tucker, 662 P.2d 345 (Or. Ct. App. 1983). · cites it 8× “540 prohibits wiretapping, “except as otherwise provided in ORS 133.724 * * and prohibits the use or attempted use of any conversation obtained by means prohibited by that section.”
State v. Delaurent, 514 P.3d 113 (Or. Ct. App. 2022). · cites it 3× “ORS 133.724 also sheds some light on the issue before us.”
State v. Oslund, 693 P.2d 1354 (Or. Ct. App. 1985). · cites it 7× “Pursuant to ORS 133.724, on February 2, 1983, the district attorney filed an application for an ex parte order for the interception of an oral communication.”
State v. Jury, 57 P.3d 970 (Or. Ct. App. 2002). “Ultimately, the Supreme Court held that ORS 133.724 required the police to obtain court orders before using body wires to intercept communications.”
State v. Neff, 265 P.3d 62 (Or. Ct. App. 2011). · cites it 4× “540(1)(c) provides, in part: "(1) Except as otherwise provided in ORS 133.724 or 133.726 or subsections (2) to (7) of this section, a person may not: "* * * * * "(c) Obtain or attempt to obtain the whole or any part of a conversation by means of any device, contrivance, machine…”
State v. Jones, 121 P.3d 657 (Or. 2005). · cites it 3× “That statute provides, in part: “(1) Any aggrieved person in any trial, hearing or proceeding in or before any court * * * may move to suppress the contents of any wire, electronic or oral communication intercepted under ORS 133.724, or evidence derived therefrom, on the grounds…”
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 133.724(1) — 8 cases
State v. Pottle, 677 P.2d 1 (Or. 1984). “735 provides for the suppression of intercepted communications: "(1) Any aggrieved person in any trial, hearing or proceeding in or before any court, department, officer, agency, regulatory body or other authority of the state, or a political subdivision thereof, may move to…”
State v. Fleetwood, 16 P.3d 503 (Or. 2000). “The first statute is ORS 133.724, which provides, in part: “(1) An ex parte order for the interception of wire, electronic or oral communications may be issued by any circuit court judge upon written application made upon oath or affirmation of the individual who is the district…”
State v. Miskell, 277 P.3d 522 (Or. 2012). “540, which the statute expressly recognizes in the introductory phrase: “Except as otherwise provided in ORS 133.724 and ORS 133.726 or subsection (2) to (7) of this section * * The two exceptions that are relevant in this case, ORS 133.”
State v. Tucker, 662 P.2d 345 (Or. Ct. App. 1983). “540 prohibits wiretapping, “except as otherwise provided in ORS 133.724 * * and prohibits the use or attempted use of any conversation obtained by means prohibited by that section.”
State v. Harris, 509 P.3d 83 (Or. 2022).
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 133.724(1)(a) — 2 cases
State v. Delaurent, 514 P.3d 113 (Or. Ct. App. 2022). “ORS 133.724 also sheds some light on the issue before us.”
State v. Harris, 509 P.3d 83 (Or. 2022).
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 133.724(1)(b) — 1 case
State v. Delaurent, 514 P.3d 113 (Or. Ct. App. 2022). “ORS 133.724 also sheds some light on the issue before us.”
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 133.724(1)(g) — 1 case
State v. Pottle, 677 P.2d 1 (Or. 1984). “735 provides for the suppression of intercepted communications: "(1) Any aggrieved person in any trial, hearing or proceeding in or before any court, department, officer, agency, regulatory body or other authority of the state, or a political subdivision thereof, may move to…”
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 133.724(1)(h) — 2 cases
State v. Stockfleth, 804 P.2d 471 (Or. 1991). “3 ORS 133.724. 4 The trial court suppressed the conversations obtained from the wiretaps.”
State v. Oslund, 693 P.2d 1354 (Or. Ct. App. 1985). “Pursuant to ORS 133.724, on February 2, 1983, the district attorney filed an application for an ex parte order for the interception of an oral communication.”
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 133.724(1)(k) — 1 case
State v. Stockfleth, 804 P.2d 471 (Or. 1991). “3 ORS 133.724. 4 The trial court suppressed the conversations obtained from the wiretaps.”
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 133.724(3) — 1 case
State v. Pottle, 677 P.2d 1 (Or. 1984). “735 provides for the suppression of intercepted communications: "(1) Any aggrieved person in any trial, hearing or proceeding in or before any court, department, officer, agency, regulatory body or other authority of the state, or a political subdivision thereof, may move to…”
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 133.724(3)(b) — 1 case
State v. Stockfleth, 804 P.2d 471 (Or. 1991). “3 ORS 133.724. 4 The trial court suppressed the conversations obtained from the wiretaps.”
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 133.724(3)(c) — 2 cases
State v. Stockfleth, 804 P.2d 471 (Or. 1991). “3 ORS 133.724. 4 The trial court suppressed the conversations obtained from the wiretaps.”
State v. Oslund, 693 P.2d 1354 (Or. Ct. App. 1985). “Pursuant to ORS 133.724, on February 2, 1983, the district attorney filed an application for an ex parte order for the interception of an oral communication.”
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 133.724(4) — 3 cases
State v. Pottle, 677 P.2d 1 (Or. 1984). “735 provides for the suppression of intercepted communications: "(1) Any aggrieved person in any trial, hearing or proceeding in or before any court, department, officer, agency, regulatory body or other authority of the state, or a political subdivision thereof, may move to…”
State v. Tucker, 662 P.2d 345 (Or. Ct. App. 1983). “540 prohibits wiretapping, “except as otherwise provided in ORS 133.724 * * and prohibits the use or attempted use of any conversation obtained by means prohibited by that section.”
State v. Stockfleth, 781 P.2d 1220 (Or. Ct. App. 1990).
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 133.724(4)(a) — 2 cases
State v. Pottle, 677 P.2d 1 (Or. 1984). “735 provides for the suppression of intercepted communications: "(1) Any aggrieved person in any trial, hearing or proceeding in or before any court, department, officer, agency, regulatory body or other authority of the state, or a political subdivision thereof, may move to…”
State v. Klein, 283 P.3d 350 (Or. 2012). “Based in part on those conversations, the police obtained a wiretap order under ORS 133.724, which authorized the interception of communications made by defendant on his mobile phone.”
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 133.724(4)(e) — 2 cases
State v. Pottle, 677 P.2d 1 (Or. 1984). “735 provides for the suppression of intercepted communications: "(1) Any aggrieved person in any trial, hearing or proceeding in or before any court, department, officer, agency, regulatory body or other authority of the state, or a political subdivision thereof, may move to…”
State v. Stockfleth, 781 P.2d 1220 (Or. Ct. App. 1990).
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 133.724(5) — 5 cases
State v. Pottle, 677 P.2d 1 (Or. 1984). “735 provides for the suppression of intercepted communications: "(1) Any aggrieved person in any trial, hearing or proceeding in or before any court, department, officer, agency, regulatory body or other authority of the state, or a political subdivision thereof, may move to…”
State v. Stockfleth, 804 P.2d 471 (Or. 1991). “3 ORS 133.724. 4 The trial court suppressed the conversations obtained from the wiretaps.”
State v. Tucker, 662 P.2d 345 (Or. Ct. App. 1983). “540 prohibits wiretapping, “except as otherwise provided in ORS 133.724 * * and prohibits the use or attempted use of any conversation obtained by means prohibited by that section.”
State v. Pottle, 662 P.2d 351 (Or. Ct. App. 1983).
State v. Stockfleth, 781 P.2d 1220 (Or. Ct. App. 1990).
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 133.724(6) — 1 case
State v. Stockfleth, 781 P.2d 1220 (Or. Ct. App. 1990).
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 133.724(l)(c) — 1 case
State v. Fleetwood, 16 P.3d 503 (Or. 2000). “The first statute is ORS 133.724, which provides, in part: “(1) An ex parte order for the interception of wire, electronic or oral communications may be issued by any circuit court judge upon written application made upon oath or affirmation of the individual who is the district…”
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 133.724(l)(h) — 2 cases
State v. Stockfleth, 804 P.2d 471 (Or. 1991). “3 ORS 133.724. 4 The trial court suppressed the conversations obtained from the wiretaps.”
State v. Oslund, 693 P.2d 1354 (Or. Ct. App. 1985). “Pursuant to ORS 133.724, on February 2, 1983, the district attorney filed an application for an ex parte order for the interception of an oral communication.”
— Or. Rev. Stat. § 133.724(l)(k) — 1 case
State v. Stockfleth, 804 P.2d 471 (Or. 1991). “3 ORS 133.724. 4 The trial court suppressed the conversations obtained from the wiretaps.”
Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.