No cellphone law; OK on energy drink deal

The Suffolk Legislature, after a debate raw with emotion, Tuesday night rejected a proposal to track identities of those buying pre-paid cellphones as a crime-fighting tool after critics said it would hurt the poor, immigrants and domestic violence victims.

The measure went down 7-11 in a vote that crossed party lines despite efforts by sponsor Legis. Kate Browning (WFP-Shirley) and a Suffolk police detective to tout its value to combat drug dealers and other criminals. Other lawmakers questioned whether criminals would identify themselves to buy phones and cited highly personal experiences and contacts with domestic violence victims.

One foe, Legis. Thomas Barraga (R-West Islip) cited one woman whose husband was "a living Satan," who once pointed a shotgun at her to terrorize her. "A cellphone for that type of [victim] is absolutely needed," he said.

Legis. Vivian Viloria-Fisher (D-Setauket) said the measure would impact the poor and immigrants who cannot afford regular phones. She also cited her experiences during her own divorce and a recent stalking incident involving her daughter. "I cannot imagine women going through that hell . . . and not having a way to communicate for help," she said.

However, presiding officer William Lindsay (D-holbrook) backed the measure as a needed tool for short-staffed police to find criminals like the gunman who massacred four at a Medford drugstore Sunday. He said that even with "victims of domestic violence, it's a two-edged sword. I know a woman who was harassed, terrorized. We knew who it was -- her husband -- but he could never be tracked down because he was using a pre-paid cellphone."

An exasperated Browning pleaded for lawmakers to back her bill. "We've heard abut Gilgo and Craigslist murders and every day our kids are dying of overdoses," she said. To me, a cell phone is a tool to commit crime." She was backed up by Det. Sgt. John Busweiler, who said the measure "would be an extremely valuable investigative tool" in cases that now become dead ends witout ID's.

But Legis. Louis D'Amaro(D-North Babylon) asked, "Is it effective enough to to warrant its use with all the downsides?"