In addition to the criminal penalty provided in section 1 of this Act, and any other civil or criminal remedy available under law, there is a civil cause of action for the dissemination of location information about a current or former public officer. The public officer may recover punitive, special, and general damages, including damages for emotional distress, and reasonable attorney fees and costs. An action may be maintained under this section whether or not a person alleged to have violated section 1 of this Act is charged or convicted of the alleged crime. 22