WISNIEWSKI/COHEN/CHIVUKULA BILL INCREASING FINES FOR FAKE UTILITY EMPLOYEE IDs BECOMES LAW

(TRENTON) - Legislation Assemblymen John S. Wisniewski, Neil M. Cohen, and Upendra Chivukula sponsored to toughen penalties for individuals who possess or distribute phony public utility employee identification badges was signed into law today by Governor Jon S. Corzine.

"Electricity-generation plants and other utility facilities are potential terrorist targets and we need to mitigate our state's vulnerability," said Wisniewski (D-Middlesex). "It's tantamount to a security breach to not have strong penalties in place to punish individuals who pirate utility identification credentials."

The measure (A-1940) provides power plants, water supply stations, and general water and power infrastructure with an added layer of protection from vandalism and terrorist attacks.

Under the new law, any public utility employees who allow their identification to be used by  another person would be guilty of a fourth-degree crime, subject to fines up to $10,000 and 18 months in jail.  These penalties also can extend to anyone displaying or using a public utility identification badge to deceive another person, and to anyone knowingly caught in possession of a forged public utility identification badge.

The law further classifies forging public utility identification badges, possessing the materials for forging badges, and distributing or using phony public utility employee identification badges as second-degree crimes - punishable by up to $150,000 in fines and 10 years in jail.

Additionally, any person using or displaying a false utility badge or attempting to impersonate a utility employee would be charged with a third-degree crime and could face up to $15,000 in fines and five years in jail.

"Ensuring the authenticity of identification badges is the simplest way to see that only those people who belong inside a power station's gates gain entry," said Cohen (D-Union).

According to the sponsors, increasing the penalty schedules of these offenses will help protect power and water supply plants.  The law also serves to bring the penalty schedules in line with those of New Jersey's forgery statute, making the penalties for forgery and for possession of forgery equipment identical.

"The years since September 11 have shown us the need to safeguard the public from criminals and terrorists disguising their true intentions," said Chivukula (D-Somerset).  "This will add New Jersey's public utilities to the list of places declared 'off limits' to criminals."

The new law takes effect immediately.

--30--