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Opposition to I.R. 1266: Suffolk County Prepaid Cell Phone Bill (Oposición para I.R. 1266)
  1. Signatures
    120 out of 500
    Petitioning
    1. Suffolk County Legislator (Kate Browning)
  2. Created By
    SEPA Mujer
About this Petition Petition Letter Petition Updates

Dear Friends,

A bill, I.R. 1266, has been introduced to the Suffolk County Legislature by Leg. Kate Browning that would require consumers to present two forms of identification when purchasing prepaid cell phones; would establish a police database in which the personal information of these individuals would be stored; and would also require retailers to enter the personal information of prepaid cell phone purchasers into the police department’s database or maintain paper records. A retailer’s failure to comply is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 and/or up to one year in jail.

We are gravely concerned about the unintended consequences of this bill on civil liberties, immigrant communities, the poor, and victims of domestic violence and human trafficking. For domestic violence and human trafficking victims, we believe the value of maintaining the degree of anonymity offered by prepaid cell phones, as used to prevent abusers and perpetrators from tracking and further harming victims, outweighs the potential benefits of this legislation.

Additionally, the intended purpose of this bill--to deter would-be criminals and terrorists--is misguided and ineffective. Would-be criminals could just as easily avoid identifying themselves by purchasing prepaid cell phones outside of Suffolk County or use a payphone. Yet the burden on our constitutional rights is great. Under this legislation, law enforcement would be able to obtain consumers’ personal information without a warrant, upsetting well-established 4th Amendment principles.

Although this formal public hearing process is closed in the legislature, we would like to educate Ms. Browning and others on the anti-immigrant and anti-woman nature of this legislation. What would this bill mean to you if it were passed? To the working poor in our communities. To the non-working poor. To immigrants and victims of crimes. Please share your stories with us and sign this petition in opposition to this bill so we may share them with our local elected officials.

Below you will find one of the many stories from SEPA Mujer on how devastating this legislation would be to survivors of domestic violence.

For more information on I.R. 1266, or to share your story, please email us at info@sepamujer.org

 

Yours sincerely,

SEPA Mujer

 

Estimados Amigos, 

Un proyecto de ley, I.R. 1266, ha sido presentado a la legislatura del Condado de Suffolk por la Legisladora Kate Browning que requiere a los consumidores presentar dos formas de identificación cuando compren teléfonos prepagados; establecería una base de datos de la policía en donde la información personal de estos individuos sería almacena; y también esta requeriría que los minoristas entren la información personal de los compradores de los teléfonos prepagados dentro de la base de datos del departamento de la policía o mantener los registros en papel. El incumplimiento de esta ley por un minorista es considerado un delito menor que sería castigado con una multa de hasta $ 1.000 y / o hasta un año de cárcel.

Estamos gravemente preocupados por las consecuencias no deseadas de este proyecto de ley que atenta contra las libertades civiles, las comunidades de inmigrantes, los pobres, las víctimas de la violencia doméstica y el tráfico humano. Para la violencia doméstica y víctimas de tráfico humano, creemos que el valor de mantener el grado de anonimato que ofrecen los teléfonos celulares prepagados, tal como es usado para prevenir abusadores y agresores de seguir y hacer más daño a las víctimas, estos superan los beneficios de esta legislación.

Además, el destino de este proyecto de ley - para disuadir a los posibles delincuentes y terroristas - es equivocada e ineficaz. Serían los criminales quienes podrían fácilmente evitar identificarse para comprar teléfonos celulares prepagados fuera del condado de Suffolk o utilizar un teléfono público. Sin embargo, la carga que pesa sobre nuestros derechos constitucionales es grande. Bajo esta legislación, aplicación de la ley sería capaz de obtener información personal de los consumidores sin una orden judicial, alterando los principios bien establecidos en la 4ta enmienda.

Aunque este proceso formal de audiencia pública está cerrado en la legislatura, queremos educar a la Sra. Browning y otros que la naturaleza de esta legislación está en contra de los inmigrantes y en contra de la mujer. ¿Qué significaría este proyecto de ley para usted sí este pasa? Para los pobres que trabajan en nuestras comunidades. Para los pobres que no trabajan. Para los inmigrantes y las víctimas de delitos. Por favor comparta sus historias con nosotros y firmen esta petición en contra de este proyecto de ley para que podamos compartir con nuestros funcionarios electos locales.

Para mayor información en I.R. 1266, o para que comparta su historia, por favor envíe un corre a info@sepamujer.org

 

Sinceramente,

SEPA Mujer

 

 

 

 

Why People Are Signing
Recent Signatures

I.R. 1266 Would Harm Suffolk County Residents

Dear Legislator Browning:

The above signed individuals live in Suffolk County and oppose I.R. 1266 that you proposed. Below is a letter from one of the many women who would be harmed by this bill. Please take a moment to read their stories and listen to their concerns.

Sincerely,

Your constituents


...


Dear Legislator Browning:

My name is Erika Brooks and I am a survivor of Domestic Violence. I am writing this letter to express my great concern abut the legislation you are trying to pass, I.R. 1266, that would force anyone buying a prepaid cell phone to show two forms of government ID that would then be entered into a registry kept by police.

My ex husband used to lock all my personal documents in a file cabinet. If this law was in effect when I left this abusive relationship, I could have been killed. Access to communication in a life threatening situation can be the key to either being safe or being in danger. I was blessed to have a prepaid phone at the time I called the police. Something else you need to know is that my ex husband kept looking for me after I got an order of protection. If your legislation was in place two years ago, he would have found me.

I am very grateful to ex -Senator Brian X. Foley because his efforts made it possible for domestic violence victims to vote without being scared that our personal information would be accessible to our perpetrators. Please see: Legislation sponsored by Senator Brian X. Foley aimed at protecting the rights and security of victims of domestic violence that has been signed into law by Governor Paterson.

The new law allows victims of domestic violence to request a court order that requires the Board of Elections to keep their registration records confidential. This means that victims will be afforded an added layer of protection in keeping their new address out of the hands of their abusers.

"We can never do enough to protect victims of domestic violence," said Senator Foley. "By overhauling a broken and antiquated law that punishes victims, we are taking another important step forward in helping victims rebuild their lives. Keeping the location of these individuals confidential allows them to exercise their fundamental right to vote while helping to ensure their safety. Under the old law, the Board of Elections was required to provide the address of any registered voter to any person who submits the request in writing and cites the applicable law. As a result, victims of domestic violence were forced to choose between security and voting, and often did not register to vote" Retrieved from the archives: (http://www.nysenate.gov/press-release/senator-foley-protects-victims-domestic-violence)

I understand that your intentions are to protect us from drug dealers and terrorists, however I need to ask you: how does this law prevent drug dealers and terrorists from going to another county, from using a pay phone or asking someone else to purchase the phone? This law will hurt women and children trying to leave the abuser.

There are laws that protect the confidentiality of our personal information. Going forward with this new legislation goes against the efforts of other community and political leaders trying to make a difference in the lives of battered women.

I hope that you will reconsider your decision, the lives of battered women are in your hands now.


ERIKA A. BROOKS




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