A. Unlawful operation of an audiovisual recording device consists of a person knowingly operating an audiovisual recording device to record or transmit a motion picture in a motion picture theater without the consent of the motion picture theater owner or manager while a motion picture is being exhibited.
B. A person who commits unlawful operation of an audiovisual recording device is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be sentenced pursuant to the provisions of Section 31-19-1 NMSA 1978.
C. The owner, manager or lessee of a motion picture theater or an agent or employee of the owner, manager or lessee who alerts law enforcement authorities that an alleged violation of Subsection A of this section is taking place is not liable in any civil action arising from the detention of the person alleged to be operating or to have operated the audiovisual recording device when the owner, manager or lessee or an agent or employee of the owner, manager or lessee is acting in good faith, unless the plaintiff can show by a preponderance of the evidence that the detention measures were unreasonable or the period of detention was unreasonably long.
D. This section does not prevent law enforcement personnel from operating an audiovisual recording device in a motion picture theater as part of a lawfully authorized investigation.
E. Nothing in this section prevents prosecution under any other statutes.
F. As used in this section:
(1) "audiovisual recording device" means a device capable of recording or transmitting a motion picture or any part of a motion picture by means of any technology; and
(2) "motion picture theater" means a movie theater, screening room or other venue used primarily for the exhibition of motion pictures.
History: Laws 2006, ch. 79, § 1.
ANNOTATIONSEffective dates. — Laws 2006, ch. 79, § 2 made the act effective July 1, 2006.