Assembly Passes Moriarty, Love Bill to Protect Residents from Criminal ID Theft

ASSEMBLY PASSES MORIARTY/LOVE BILL TO PROTECT RESIDENTS FROM CRIMINAL ID THEFT

Measure Would Require State Attorney General to Develop Guidelines for Police to Positively Identify Suspects Prior to Release

(TRENTON) - The General Assembly today passed legislation Assembly members Paul Moriarty and Sandi Love sponsored to require the state Attorney General to augment procedures used by local police when identifying suspects prior to release to ensure they are not stealing another resident's identity.

The measure (A-2218) was inspired by the experience of Donna Judson, a South Jersey wife and mother arrested following a routine traffic stop when a check of her police record showed warrants for prostitution and drug dealing - offenses she did not commit. After researching the complaints, local police realized Ms. Judson's identity was stolen by a cousin who gave false information following an arrest by Camden police, who not require proof-of-identification when they issued the citations.

"No law-abiding resident should ever wake up one morning to find that they have mysteriously compiled a rap sheet of crimes they never committed," said Moriarty (D-Gloucester).  "When police ask a suspect for identification, there should be no ability for an innocent person to have their identity stolen."

The Moriarty/Love bill would require the Attorney General's office to establish mandatory procedures to be followed by local police to enhance their ability to positively identify suspects before they are released.

"Just as it can take victims of financial identity theft years to straighten out their accounts, it could take victims of criminal identity theft years to reclaim their good name and reputation," said Love (D-Camden). "We need to protect New Jerseyans from criminals who are all-to-willing to use an innocent person's identity as a 'get out of jail free' card."

The bill passed 78-0.  It now heads to the Senate for further consideration.

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