Emergency interception is allowed only for specially designated investigative or law enforcement officers, with judge approval and later warrant procedures.
Notwithstanding any other provision in this chapter, any investigative or law enforcement officer, specially designated by the attorney general or a county attorney, who: (1) reasonably determines that: (i) an emergency situation exists that involves immediate danger of death or serious physical injury to any person that requires a wire, oral, or electronic communication to be intercepted before a warrant authorizing such interception can, with due diligence, be obtained; and (ii) there are grounds upon which a warrant could be issued under this chapter to authorize the interception; and (2) obtains approval from a judge of the district court, of the court of appeals, or of the supreme court, may intercept the wire, oral, or electronic communication. The judge's approval may be given orally and may be given in person or by using any medium of communication. The judge shall do one of the following: make written notes summarizing the conversation, tape record the conversation, or have a court reporter record the conversation. An application for a warrant approving the interception must be made in accordance with section 626A.06 within 36 hours after the interception has occurred, or begins to occur. In the absence of a warrant, the interception must immediately end when the communication sought is obtained or when the application for the warrant is denied, whichever is earlier. If application for approval is denied, or in any other case where the interception is ended without a warrant having been issued, the contents of a wire, oral, or electronic communication intercepted must be treated as having been obtained in violation of this chapter and an inventory shall be served as provided for in section 626A.10 on the person named in the application.