One way to fight criminals, terrorists: Register pre-paid cell phones
Texas state senator offers legislation, with the support of state police chiefs, which would help in fighting crimes — and terrorism: Legislation would require prepaid cellphone customers to present ID and limit purchases to three phones at a time; it also would require prepaid cellphone service providers to make phone records accessible to police
Texas State Senator John Carona last week unveiled a proposal that takes aim at prepaid cellphones in a strategy to combat criminal gangs — but which may also be used to limit the freedom of would-be terrorists. The legislation would require prepaid cellphone customers to present ID and limit purchases to three phones at a time. It also would require prepaid cellphone service providers to make phone records accessible to police. “Prepaids are popular with criminals because they are cheap, accessible, untraceable and discardable,” Carona, a Dalls Republican, said. “Criminal gangs have become a major threat to our quality of living,” said Carona, who chairs the Texas Senate Committee on Transportation and Homeland Security. “They reach from the street corners of Dallas to the four corners of the globe, literally.”
Dallas police chief David Kunkle spoke in support of the proposal at the news conference, saying prepaid cellphones have become a key tool in helping gangs manage sophisticated criminal operations. “They create huge problems for us, particularly in the area of narcotics,” he said.
