In Congress: `Pre-Paid Mobile Device Identification Act' by Sen. Schumer (NY)

5-28-2010 Congress:

Title: A bill to institute an identification requirement for the purchase of pre-paid mobile devices.

5/26/2010: S-3427 was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

OK, this is a unbelievable intrusive bill as folks will see in a minute. This bill was just introduced and sent to the above committee.

In our nation there are many folks, mostly senior citizens, who do not have State or Federal issued IDs, and may want to own a inexpensive pre-paid cell phone for emergency purposes. Can you imagine them going to WalMart or other such store and having to submit the information indicated in yellow below. Hey Schumer, have you forgotten about the possibility of "Identity Theft."

Folks in Congress need to treat the American public better with their lawmaking, not everyone is a criminal or a terrorist, which is the basis Schumer is using for proposing this bill.

Further, allowing the U.S. Attorney General to come up with ANYTHING as a rule, to require of the public, for a simple cell phone purchase, is plain going too far. Their needs to be limits on what the U.S.A.G. can do or require.

I would vote NO on this bill and suggest folks contact their representatives in Washington and voice your opinions as well. The Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation may be contacted as well CLICK

eAdvocate

Here are the personal ID's required to purchase:

SEC. 4. IDENTIFICATION VERIFICATION.

(a) In Person Sales- An authorized reseller making a sale to a purchaser in person shall verify the purchaser information provided under section 3 by requiring the purchaser to display--

(1) a photographic identification card issued by a Federal or State government, or a document considered acceptable for purposes of subparagraphs (B), (C), or (D) of section 274A(b)(1) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1324a(b)(1)); or

(2) any 2 of the following documents:

(A) A Form W-2 Wage and Tax Statement received from the Internal Revenue Service, provided that such form has been received from the Internal Revenue Service within the prior 18 months.

(B) A Form 1099 Social Security Benefit Statement received from the Social Security Administration, provided that such form has been received from the Social Security Administration within the prior 18 months.

(C) A Form 1099 received from any other agency of the Federal Government other than the Social Security Administration, including the Internal Revenue Service, provided that such form has been received within the prior 18 months.

(D) Any document containing personal identifying information that the Attorney General finds, by regulation, to be acceptable for purposes of this section.

(b) Other Sales- An authorized reseller making a sale to a purchaser not in person shall verify the purchaser information provided under section 3 by requiring the purchaser to submit the following information:

(1) Valid credit or debit card account information.
(2) Social Security number.
(3) Driver's license number.
(4) Any other personal identifying information that the Attorney General finds, by regulation, to be necessary for purposes of this section.