Prepaid cell registry is needed
June 7, 2011. At the Suffolk County Legislature building, Hauppague. Luis Valenzuela (left) and Joselo Lucero, (brother of Marcelo Lucero) addresses the press. Long Island�s immigrant advocates gathered to protest three bills that they say will hurt immigrants on Long Island. One, introduced by Legis. Kate Browning and to be voted seeks to restrict the sales of prepaid cellphones to people who can produce two forms of identification and who register for a database. The coalition of advocates is also reacting to a pair of bills expected to be introduced by County Executive Steve Levy requiring the use of E-Verify -- a system that checks the immigration status of workers before they are hired -- by companies doing business with the county and people holding occupational licenses in Suffolk. (Photo/Daniel Goodrich) Credit: Photo by Daniel Goodrich
I am disappointed that the Suffolk County Legislature voted against tracking the identities of people buying prepaid cellphones ["Phone tracking nixed," News, June 22].
It's beyond me what they found so egregious about requiring extra identification and entering the information in a police department database. They cited phone access for the poor, immigrants and battered women.
The current laws in this nation have not kept up with technology. A number of Americans are routinely stalked, harassed and threatened by people using prepaid phones that cannot be tracked by the police.
I have been the victim of this type of harassment for more than four years. The police have not been able to help because of the phony name and address provided.
The prepaid cellphone business is profitable. The Suffolk Legislature is ignoring real problems to appease people who may not even be citizens and to side with corporations.
Anthony Johnson, Brentwood
