Could My DEA Tip or Contact With Her Father Violate My New York Order of Protection?
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Reviewed & verified by A. Jason Velez, Esq.*
Managing Attorney, 1LAW · Last reviewed January 1, 2026
Legal Inquiry
Consumer Legal Issue
I've just been served with an order of protection and I need urgent advice. I also recently reported suspected drug activity by the person who filed the order, and I had prior contact with a family member of hers and a mutual friend before the order was issued. I need to know whether any of that creates legal exposure for me. I was trying to get her family to help her.
Attorney Answer
Filing a truthful tip with law enforcement and having ordinary contact with someone's father before an order of protection existed generally do not, by themselves, create legal exposure for you. The order itself is what matters most right now, and following it exactly going forward is your top priority.
Since your contact with her father and the mutual friend happened before the order was issued, that contact cannot violate an order that did not yet exist. What matters is what happens from here. Many New York orders of protection prohibit contact "directly or through third parties," so read your specific order closely to see if it restricts contact with her father or the friend going forward, not just with her directly. Violating an order, even indirectly, can lead to criminal contempt charges under New York Penal Law § 215.50.
As for the DEA tip, reporting suspected criminal activity to law enforcement in good faith is generally protected and does not, by itself, expose you to civil or criminal liability. This holds true even if the person you reported is the same person who later sought the order against you. The two situations are legally separate.
One thing worth preparing for: if she claims your tip or past contact was retaliatory or intended to intimidate her, that argument could come up during any hearing on the order, even though it is not itself a separate crime. Having a clear, honest timeline ready helps.
What you can do
1. Read the order of protection carefully so you understand exactly what contact, direct and indirect, it prohibits going forward. 2. Avoid contacting her, her father, or the mutual friend about this situation unless your attorney confirms it is allowed under the order. 3. Do not write out your own account of what happened. Notes you create yourself are not protected by attorney-client privilege, can be seized or subpoenaed, and can be used to impeach you if your testimony later differs. Instead preserve the records that already exist — texts, call logs, emails, receipts, photos and location history — along with the names and contact details of any witnesses, and give your account to your attorney verbally. 4. Keep any records connected to the tip and those conversations in case they become relevant later. 5. Bring this timeline and any documentation to a criminal defense attorney before your next court date.
This is general legal information, not legal advice, and a local New York criminal defense attorney can review the order's exact terms and advise you on your specific situation.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does the order of protection cover contact through her father or friends?
Many New York orders explicitly prohibit contact directly or through third parties, so you need to read your specific order closely. If it includes that language, avoid contacting them about this situation going forward too.
Can filing a truthful DEA tip get me in trouble?
If your tip was truthful and made in good faith, it generally would not expose you to liability. Filing a knowingly false report to law enforcement is a different matter and can carry its own legal consequences.
What happens if I accidentally violate the order?
Even an unintentional violation can lead to arrest and criminal contempt charges in New York. If you are ever unsure whether contact is allowed, do not risk it, and ask your attorney first.
