Senate Bill 2238

AN ACT TO CREATE THE OFFENSE OF USING AN AUDIOVISUAL RECORDING DEVICE IN A MOTION PICTURE THEATER; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. (1) Any person who knowingly operates the audiovisual recording function of any device in a motion picture theater while a motion picture is being exhibited without the consent of the motion picture theater owner commits a crime punishable as provided in subsection (7) of this section.

(2) The term "audiovisual recording function" means the capability of a device to record or transmit a motion picture or any part thereof by means of any technology whether developed before or after July 1, 2005.

(3) The term "motion picture theater" means a movie theater, screening room or other venue that is being utilized primarily for the exhibition of a motion picture at the time of the alleged offense.

(4) The owner or lessee of a motion picture theater, or the authorized agent or employee of the owner or lessee, who alerts law enforcement authorities of an alleged violation of this section shall not be liable in any civil action arising out of measures taken while awaiting the arrival of law enforcement authorities by the owner, lessee, agent or employee in the course of subsequently detaining a person whom the owner, lessee, agent or employee in good faith believed to have violated this section unless the plaintiff can show by clear and convincing evidence that the measures were manifestly unreasonable or the period of detention was unreasonably long.

(5) This section does not prevent any lawfully authorized investigative, law enforcement, protective, or intelligence gathering employee or agent of the local, state or federal government from operating any audiovisual recording device in a motion picture theater as part of lawfully authorized investigative, protective, law enforcement, or intelligence gathering activities.

(6) Nothing in this section shall prevent prosecution under any provision of law providing for greater penalty.

(7) A person convicted of violating this section shall be punished by a fine not to exceed One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) or imprisonment in the county jail not to exceed six (6) months, or either.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2005.