MADISON, Wis. (AP) - The Wisconsin Legislature has passed a bill that would make it a felony to use credit card skimmers to steal a person’s identity.
The Assembly passed the measure on a voice vote Wednesday. It now heads to Gov. Scott Walker since it already passed the Senate.
The bill makes it a Class I felony to possess a credit card scanner. Those scanners, also referred to as skimmers, are often used at card-operated fuel pumps or automated teller machines to steal card numbers.
Under the bill, the crime would be punishable by up to 3½ years in prison and fines up to $10,000.
Bill backers say prosecutors needed another way to combat the crime which has been reported in dozens of Wisconsin communities.
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