Press Releases
Girgenti Bill To Upgrade Penalties For Utility Badge Frauds Becomes Law
January 10, 2008
TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senator John A. Girgenti to upgrade the penalties for misusing public utility employee identification badges and to establish penalties for making, selling, and possessing fake public utility IDs was signed into law last week.
“I am concerned about the number of instances in which New Jersey residents have been victimized by people posing as utility employees,” said Senator Girgenti, D-Bergen and Passaic. “There are steps consumers can take to protect themselves against home invaders posing as utility workers. It is important that every citizen be cautious about giving anyone access to their homes. Residents should not hesitate to call the utility company to confirm if they have dispatched workers to their house or neighborhood.”
The bill, S-2680, will also define and upgrade some of the penalties for public utility employees who loan or permit others to use their identification badges.
“Previously, this crime was only a misdemeanor, and because the statute did not specify the penalty, it was considered only a fourth degree crime with a penalty of imprisonment for up to 18 months and a fine of up to $10,000.”
The bill will now make it a second degree crime to knowingly sell or forge public utility employee identification badges, punishable by imprisonment for five-to-ten years and a fine of up to $150,000.
A person who knowingly possesses a forged badge will be committing a fourth degree crime with penalties of imprisonment of up to 18 months and a fine up to $10,000.