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Pearson's ID
theft bill signed into law
Measure will help victims of ID theft get proof of crime, records easier
Legislation giving victims
a much-needed tool to assure creditors can submit proof of identity
theft to Washington courts was signed into law today.
Rep.
Kirk Pearson sponsored
House Bill 2637, which was part of a multifaceted package of bills
to help victims of identity theft.
"This bill will make
it easier for victims to work with their creditors to get their credit and,
often times their lives, back to normal," said Pearson, lead Republican
on the House Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Committee. "As
this type of crime grows, more protections need to be put in place to
ensure a person's finances aren't crippled through no fault of their own. Making sure victims have the proof they need to prosecute
the people accused of stealing their identity and to get their credit repaired is
critical."
House Bill 2637
would allow records
provided by out-of-state businesses and credit card companies to be
authenticated by affidavit rather than in person in criminal cases. When
properly served with a request for records, the recipient must provide
the records within 20 business days and verify the authenticity by
providing a signed affidavit, declaration or certification.
Pearson said that often times out-of-state companies are asked to fly long distances just to
testify that a record relating to identity theft is authentic, which
can prolong the prosecution of the person accused of the crime.
“This law will put into place new procedures to speed up the legal process,
save money and clarify what out-of-state businesses must do when
providing requested evidence," said Pearson, R-Monroe. "As a victim of identity
theft myself, I know this law is a good step to help folks."
According to the Federal
Trade Commission, the number of people who reported being
a victim of identity theft in Washington totaled 5,336 in 2006. Washington ranks
9th in the nation in per capita identity thefts reported.
Pearson believes the numbers are
much higher. A watchdog group, Identity Theft 9-1-1, estimates that in
2007 as many as 264,095 people were victims of identity theft in
Washington -- 47 percent higher than the number of identity
crimes reported to the Federal Trade Commission.
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For more information, contact:
Bobbi Cussins, Public Information Officer:
(360) 786-7252
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