Glasses that give its wearer X-ray vision have been a pop-culture fad in slapstick movies and TV shows since the '50s. But new video-camera technology is making X-ray vision a reality for voyeurs, and it's no longer a laughing matter. This week on "CyberCrime" we investigate the use of specially equipped video cameras that can see through clothes.

Home video cameras designed to videotape in the dark are instead being used during the day to see through people's clothing.

Back in the late '90s Sony released its Night Shot camcorder, which came equipped with infrared technology for filming at night. But when the night shot feature was used during the day, the camera could see through clothing. Sony pulled the Night Shot off the market. But now voyeurs are getting the same effect using an infrared filter.

What's even more surprising is that the practice is legal in most states. Currently, only one state, California, specifically outlaws the use of X-ray cameras. Senator Dick Ackerman authored a bill, enacted in January 2000, that makes all types of video voyeurism illegal. The law states that it is a crime "to secretly videotape or photograph another person under or through their clothing."

However, even this law doesn't go far enough, say some. The posting or selling of see-through images on the Internet isn't currently banned by any state.

Below you'll find descriptions of state legislation that outlaws video voyeurism, ordered by the level of protection each state offers. As you'll see, legislation differs widely from state to state. Unfortunately, most laws cover only specific voyeurism-related offenses, meaning that the use of X-ray cams in these states is illegal.

Video voyeurism legislation state by state

• California
  Measure AB 182: Makes it illegal for video voyeurs to secretly videotape or photograph another person under or through their clothing.
  
  
• Ohio
  Prohibits "up skirt" and "down blouse" videotaping.
  
  This is a third-degree misdemeanor punishable by up to 60 days imprisonment, a $500 fine, or both.
  
  Pending bill: In February 2002, Representative Michael Oxley introduced H.R. 3726, the Video Voyeurism Act of 2002. If passed, the bill would prohibit nude or up-skirt photography of "any nonconsenting person, in circumstances in which that person has a reasonable expectation of privacy."
  
  
• Louisiana
  No person may perform any acts that would make him a Peeping Tom while on or about another person's property. Nor can any person go upon such person's premises for the purpose of becoming a Peeping Tom. A Peeping Tom is one who peeps through windows, doors, or other like places on someone else's property to spy or to invade that person's privacy without consent.
  
  Punishment includes imprisonment of up to six months, a $500 fine, or both.
  
  
• Mississippi
  Any person who enters real property and pries or peeps through a window or other opening in a dwelling or other building structure for the lewd, licentious, and indecent purpose of spying upon its occupants is guilty of voyeurism or trespass by Peeping Tom.
  
  This is an unclassified felony punishable by up to five years imprisonment.
  
  
• Michigan
  Prohibits video surveillance in private places.
  
  
• New York
  Prohibits concealed cameras in fitting rooms.
  
  
• Iowa
  A person who commits criminal voyeurism is guilty of a serious misdemeanor. A serious misdemeanor is punishable by confinement for no more than one year and a fine of at least $250 but not more than $1,500. Read the bill.
  
  
• Connecticut
  Prohibits video surveillance in employee locker rooms and rest rooms.
  
  
• Wisconsin
  Assembly Bill 60, Video Voyeurism Law: Prohibits the making, possession, or distribution of a representation that depicts nudity without the consent of an individual who has a reasonable expectation of privacy.
  
  
• Alaska
  A person is guilty of indecent viewing if he knowingly views or produces a picture of the genitals, anus, or female breasts of another person without consent.
  
  This is a class A misdemeanor if the subject is an adult and a class C felony if the subject is a minor.
  
  
• Delaware
  A person is guilty of violation of privacy if he trespasses on private property intending to subject anyone to eavesdropping or other surveillance or if he installs in a private place, without consent, any device for observing, photographing, recording, amplifying, or broadcasting sounds or events in that place.
  This is a class A misdemeanor punishable by up to one-year imprisonment and a $2,300 fine.
  
  
• Georgia
  It is unlawful for anyone to peep through windows or doors (or like other places) or do any other similar act on or about the premises of another for the purpose of spying upon or invading the privacy of the person spied upon.
  Any person who observes, photographs, or records the activities of another in a private place without consent is guilty of surveillance that invades the privacy of another.
  This is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 12 months in the county jail or correctional institution and up to a $1,000 fine.
  
  
• Indiana
  A person who peeps or goes upon another person's land with the intent to peep into another person's occupied dwelling commits voyeurism. "Peep" means to look in a clandestine, surreptitious, prying, or secretive way.
  
  This is a class B misdemeanor punishable by up to 180 days imprisonment and a $500 fine.
  
  
• North Carolina
  Anyone who peeps secretly into any room occupied by a female is guilty of secretly peeping.
  This is a class 1 misdemeanor punishable by up to six months imprisonment.
  
  
• South Dakota
  Anyone who trespasses with the intent to subject another person to surveillance in a private place or installs any device for observing, photographing, recording, amplifying, or broadcasting sounds or events of another person without consent is guilty of trespassing.
  
  No person may enter another person's private property and peek in the door or window without a lawful purpose.
  This is a class 1 misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in a county jail, a $1,000 fine, or both.
  
  
• Tennessee
  It is illegal to knowingly and without consent photograph another person or cause him to be photographed in a place where there is a reasonable expectation of privacy if the photograph would offend or embarrass that person and if the photograph was taken to sexually arouse or gratify another.
  
  This is a class A misdemeanor punishable by up to 11 months and 29 days imprisonment, a $2,500 fine, or both. If the accused disseminates the pictures or permits them to be disseminated, it's a class E felony punishable by one to six years imprisonment and a $3,000 fine.
  
  
• Virginia
  Anyone who enters another person's property and secretly or furtively peeps, spies, or attempts to peep or spy into a window, door, or other aperture of an occupied dwelling is guilty of peeping or spying.
  This is a class 1 misdemeanor punishable by up to 12 months imprisonment, a $2,500 fine, or both.
  
  
• Washington
  A person commits the crime of voyeurism if, to arouse or gratify his sexual desires or those of another, he knowingly views, photographs, or films another person in a private place without consent.
  This is a class C felony punishable by up to three years imprisonment.