Proposed new bill would mandate IDs to be checked for the purchase of a prepaid phone

The unpredictable economy has made some wonders for the prepaid market as they continue to reap profits as consumers see the value in going the no-contract route, but there is still this underlying gray area that can be associated to criminal activities. Just about anyone can go to a retail store and pick up a prepaid phone without having to be subjected to the usual ID verification check that's in place when one would sign up for a postpaid phone. However, there is a new proposed bill which would mandate customers purchasing a prepaid handset to register it and provide identification at the time of purchase. Drug traffickers, terrorists, and even gang members have longed used prepaid carriers to conduct their illegal activities which can thwart law enforcement officials. If this bill does go through, wireless carriers would be responsible for obtaining information and keeping records for their prepaid customers so that law enforcement officials can identify them if needed for a specific investigagtion. Senator Chuck Schumer said, “This proposal is overdue because for years terrorists, drug kingpins, and gang members have stayed one step ahead of the law by using prepaid phones that are hard to trace.”

source: Yahoo via Mobileburn