From the AP via MSNBC comes this news that a Texas state senator is proposing a bill that would require all purchasers of prepaid cell phones to show a state-issued ID, and would establish databases to record who bought the cell phones.
Quotes and link after the jump.
Here is the link: Texas targets cell phone use by gangs
State Sen. John Carona introduced a proposal that would require a state-issued ID to buy prepaid cell phones, and retailers to track who is buying them. If it becomes law, Carona's proposal would limit consumers to buying no more than three prepaid cell phones at a time.
Under his plan, cell phone makers and service providers would preserve phone records and make them available to police during criminal investigations. Carona said he will introduce the proposal in next year's legislative session.
"These devices are used regularly in the commission of crimes," Carona said. "Criminals have the enormous ability to be able to communicate in an untouchable fashion — and that's unacceptable."
Emphasis mine. Now this is obviously being trumpeted as an anti-crime measure, but to me this stinks of big brother, as if someone had decided to try to follow the Bush White House's actions, but at the state level.
Would this bill really deter criminals? Wouldn't criminals just get someone else to buy their phones for them, just like an underage kid could get an older cousin to buy booze? How could you prosecute those who purchased the phones? There would not be any easy way to proove ill-intent on their part.
In my opinion, this bill seems to be less of a way to prosecute or hinder criminals and more of an attempt to keep tabs on every single citizen who uses these prepaid phones instead of the more conventional and easily tracable methods of communication. Because you don't want any citizens to be able to talk privately, now would you?
Let us not forget that this bill would also impose upon the poor, just like voter ID laws would.
Salzman said restrictions on buying prepaid cell phones will fall hardest on low-income consumers, the very people for whom prepaid phones were originally intended.
"Prepaid were designed to serve underserved parts of the community," Salzman said. "The poor, the low-income, the no-credit, the elderly. These are customers who, but for prepaid, wouldn't be able to get wireless services."
What are your thoughts?