Would registering prepaid phone help deter crime?

Dawn Kawamoto at DailyFinance asks the same question in a recent article. She notes that a few states have tried to pass such legislation. It’s not as easy as just voting on a new law, though. There are logistical issues that could make such a system difficult. A number of states have seen this in effect when passing laws requiring prepaid users to pay 911 fees. There is still no mechanism in place to assess that fee for internet purchases. These logistical issues will probably cause further delay in states adopting prepaid registration measures. Yet this doesn’t address the foremost question. Will registration make a significant impact on crime? I can’t answer that, but state legislators should look deeply into the matter before they consider any legislation. If inconveniencing millions of innocent users produces only a marginal effect, is that really worth it? ]]>