[HISTORY: Adopted by the Suffolk County Legislature as indicated
in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable. Uncodified
sections of local laws amending these provisions are included at the
end of this chapter.]
[Adopted 6-29-1999 by L.L. No. 21-1999 (Ch. 227, Art. I,
of the 1985 Code)]
A.
This Legislature hereby finds and determines that recent actions
by law enforcement authorities to subpoena the records of bookstores
regarding purchases made by private citizens raises the specter of
yet another chilling invasion into the private rights of citizens
to exercise their First Amendment freedoms.
B.
This Legislature hereby determines to establish a policy against
police state actions that smack of massive "Big Brother."
C.
Therefore, the purpose of this article is to prohibit anyone from
disseminating to third parties the names of individuals purchasing
books and the details of the transaction unless written consent to
do so has first been obtained from the individuals in question.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
Any natural person, individual, corporation, unincorporated
association, proprietorship, firm, partnership, joint venture, joint-stock
association or other entity or business organization of any kind.
No person who sells or loans books or magazines within the County
of Suffolk shall provide or disseminate to any third party the names
of individuals purchasing books or magazines within the County of
Suffolk, nor the title or name of the book or magazine purchased or
taken from any such book or magazine sale occurring within the County
of Suffolk, without the written consent of the purchaser and the issuance
by a court of a subpoena to produce such information.
This article shall apply to any transaction occurring on or
after the effective date of this article.
