FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
June 21, 2017
Contact: Sen. Robert Cowles: (608) 266-0484
Cowles Bill to Protect Consumers at the Pump Passes the Full Legislature
2017 Senate Bill 133 Awaits the Governor’s Signature
MADISON- Today, the Wisconsin State Assembly overwhelmingly voted in favor of 2017 Senate Bill 133 which combats credit card skimmers. This compliments the unanimous decision of the Senate to pass the bill during their regular session on June 14th, and the bill now goes to the Governor to be signed into law. Senator Robert Cowles (R-Green Bay) released this statement on the bill’s passage:
“Since the first credit card skimmer was discovered in Wisconsin, prosecutors have lacked proper tools to prosecute criminals who use credit card skimmers. Dozens of communities have felt the impact of these identity thieves, and Wisconsin’s criminal statutes have lagged behind. Today, we changed that. With the Governor’s signature, law enforcement and prosecutors will have the penalties they need to stop criminals before they place credit card skimmers and to properly punish them for stealing personal information. I would like to thank my co-author, Representative Rob Summerfield (R-Bloomer), and all of the co-sponsors who have identified this issue and the ability of this legislation to protect consumers and punish criminals.”
Senate Bill 133 enacts the following penalties: Class I felony, with the possibility of 3½ years in prison and fines up to $10,000 for the possession of a skimmer with criminal intent; Class H felony, with the possibility of 6 years in prison and fines up to $10,000 for the trafficking of a skimmer; Class H felony, with the possibility of up to 6 years in prison and fines up to $10,000 for the attempted use of a skimmer, and; Class G felony, with the possibility of 10 years in prison and fines up to $25,000 for the theft of something of value from the use of a skimmer. Senate Bill 133 is supported by law enforcement, prosecutors, and gas station owners.
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