FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

June 14, 2017

Contact: Sen. Robert Cowles: (608) 266-0484

Skimmers Bill Sees Success on the Senate Floor

Bill to Combat Credit Card Skimmers Now Heads to the Assembly

MADISON- Senator Robert Cowles (R-Green Bay) released this statement on the passage of 2017 Senate Bill 133, which passed on a unanimous vote during the Senate’s regular session today:

“I have authored Senate Bill 133 to protect consumers and punish criminals. This bill will combat credit card skimmers in Wisconsin by providing law enforcement and prosecutors the tools required to stop criminals before they place skimmers and to punish them if they steal financial data. Since 2015, countless residents in over 25 Wisconsin communities have gone to fill their gas tank or take cash out at the ATM, and shortly after, they felt the impact of having their personal information in the hands of a criminal. Today, the Senate took action to change that. I hope the Assembly leadership will bring this bill to the floor next week.”

No criminal penalties currently exist in Wisconsin specific to credit card skimmers, and prosecutors have been limited in charging offenders with different crimes. This bill would enact 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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