§283. Video voyeurism; penalties

           A. Video voyeurism is any of the following:

           (1) The use of any camera, videotape, photo-optical, photo-electric, or any other image recording device, or an unmanned aircraft system equipped with any camera, videotape, photo-optical, photo-electric, or any other image recording device, for the purpose of observing, viewing, photographing, filming, or videotaping a person where that person has not consented to the specific instance of observing, viewing, photographing, filming, or videotaping and either:

           (a) It is for a lewd or lascivious purpose.

           (b) The observing, viewing, photographing, filming, or videotaping is as described in Paragraph(B)(3) of this Section and occurs in a place where an identifiable person has a reasonable expectation of privacy.

           (2) The transfer of an image obtained by activity described in Paragraph (1) of this Subsection by live or recorded telephone message, electronic mail, the Internet, or a commercial online service.

           (3) The manipulation of a victim who has not yet attained the age of seventeen or who is reasonably believed to have not yet attained the age of seventeen to use any camera, videotape, photo-optical, photo-electric, or any other image recording device or an unmanned aircraft system equipped with any camera, videotape, photo-optical, photo-electric, or any other image recording device to photograph, film, or videotape oneself to send to the person manipulating the victim for a lewd or lascivious purpose.

           (4) The use of any camera, videotape, photo-optical, photo-electric, or any other image recording device or an unmanned aircraft system equipped with any camera, videotape, photo-optical, photo-electric, or any other image recording device for the purpose of observing, viewing, photographing, filming, or videotaping the body of a deceased person.

           B.(1) Except as provided in Paragraphs (3) and (4) of this Subsection, whoever commits the crime of video voyeurism shall, upon a first conviction thereof, be fined not more than two thousand dollars or imprisoned, with or without hard labor, for not more than two years, or both.

           (2) On a second or subsequent conviction, the offender shall be fined not more than two thousand dollars and imprisoned at hard labor for not less than six months nor more than three years without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence.

           (3) Whoever commits the crime of video voyeurism when the observing, viewing, photographing, filming, or videotaping is of any vaginal or anal sexual intercourse, actual or simulated sexual intercourse, masturbation, any portion of the female breast below the top of the areola or of any portion of the pubic hair, anus, cleft of the buttocks, vulva, or genitals shall be fined not more than ten thousand dollars and be imprisoned at hard labor for not less than one year or more than five years, without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence.

           (4) Whoever commits the crime of video voyeurism when the observing, viewing, photographing, filming, or videotaping is of any child under the age of seventeen with the intention of arousing or gratifying the sexual desires of the offender shall be fined not more than ten thousand dollars and be imprisoned at hard labor for not less than two years or more than ten years without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence.

           C. This Section does not apply to any of the following:

           (1) Any law enforcement officer in his official capacity while in the performance of his official duties.

           (2) The transference of such images by a telephone company, cable television company, or any of its affiliates, an internet provider, or commercial online service provider, or to the carrying, broadcasting, or performing of related activities in providing telephone, cable television, internet, or commercial online services.

           (3) Any bona fide news or public interest broadcast, website, video, report, or event and shall not be construed to affect the rights of any news-gathering organization.

           (4) The use of any camera, videotape, photo-optical, photo-electric, or other image recording device, or an unmanned aircraft system equipped with such devices, when used in connection with a lawful funeral service, memorial service, graveside service, or other end-of-life ceremony conducted by or with the consent of the decedent's next of kin or authorized representative.

           D. A violation of Paragraph (A)(1), (2), or (3) of this Section is considered a sex offense as defined in R.S. 15:541. Whoever commits the crime of video voyeurism in violation of Paragraph (A)(1), (2), or (3) of this Section is required to register as a sex offender as provided in Chapter 3-B of Title 15 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950.

           E. For the purposes of this Section, "unmanned aircraft system" means an unmanned, powered aircraft that does not carry a human operator, can be autonomous or remotely piloted or operated, and can be expendable or recoverable.

           F. Repealed by Acts 2026, No. 424, §3, eff. August 1, 2026.

           G. Repealed by Acts 2026, No. 424, §3, eff. August 1, 2026.

           H. Repealed by Acts 2026, No. 424, §3, eff. August 1, 2026.

           Acts 2003, No. 690, §1; Acts 2003, No. 1245, §1; Acts 2016, No. 635, §1, eff. August 1, 2016; Acts 2018, No. 630, §1, eff. August 1, 2018; Acts 2020, No. 352, §2, eff. August 1, 2020; Acts 2021, No. 186, §1, eff. August 1, 2021; Acts 2026, No. 424, §§1 & 3, eff. August 1, 2026.