Bill adds rules for prepaid cellphones

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Lawmaker wants names and numbers recorded
By John C. Drake

Globe Staff / July 30, 2008

A state lawmaker wants to require all buyers of prepaid cellphones to provide their names and other information for a statewide database to help police track down criminals, a proposal that is opposed by wireless companies as unwieldy and by an advocacy group as potentially unfair to immigrants.

State Representative John J. Binienda, Democrat of Worcester, said police often face roadblocks to investigations since a call made by a prepaid cellphone generally cannot be traced to the phone's owner.

Prepaid cellphones, which can be purchased off the rack at convenience stores and other retailers, do not require contracts or credit checks and come loaded with minutes that can be replenished using cash. The minutes typically cost more than packages purchased through conventional plans, and buyers have to pay full price for the phones since they're not committing to a contract. But prepaid cellphones are popular among buyers with no or poor credit histories who cannot qualify for a plan.

Binienda's bill, which is supported by Worcester police, is under consideration in the House and is not expected to pass this session, which ends this week. It will probably emerge again next year. It would require retailers to record the phone's serial number and phone number and the service provider's name, and to keep a copy of the driver's identification. The stores would be required to keep the information for two years and also supply it to the state attorney general's office and the wireless providers.

Legislation to require a photo ID to purchase a prepaid cellphone has been proposed in a few other states, including Michigan and Georgia, but has not passed.

How can 'we' use our databases, if there are no names in it? Prepaid is a shady world and its not necessarily the cellphone users.