Carona identified prepaid cell phones as the enabler of choice for gangs, and he noted "Prepaids are popular with criminals because they are cheap, accessible, untraceable and discardable. They don't even have to bother blocking or disguising the phone number, which means if the crime involves a scam, your caller ID registers a regular number with a local area code, so your guard goes down."
"Today I am rolling out the first of many initiatives to fight gangs," said Carona. "The focus of this one is the prepaid cell phone. If my proposal becomes law:
- When you buy a prepaid cell phone, you must show your state ID. The retailer collects the information.
- You cannot buy more than three prepaid cell phones at a time.
- The manufacturer or service providers are responsible for keeping phone call records and making them accessible to law enforcement in a criminal investigation.
- Prepaid cell phones must pay their fair share for 911 service.
- There are criminal and civil penalties for noncompliance.
