19 August 2008
Caprio Tough on Crime
Posted by admin under: News .
Representative David Caprio, District 34, Narragansett, South Kingstown, has long flexed a strong muscle against crime.
David has supported legislation on issues ranging from drunk driving, the growing issue of scrap metal theft (copper, aluminum, etc.), video voyeurism, and identity theft.
“We must provide Law Enforcement with the tools they need to keep our community safe.”
In 2003, David supported a bill strengthening the state’s drunk driving laws. The bill lowered the blood-alcohol level to its current level of .08 and toughened the penalties for drunk driving.
Since then, David also supported a bill that would increase the penalties for refusing to submit to a chemical test, including, but not limited to, the requirement of not less than one hundred (100) hours of community restitution. This act would also require the Attorney General to file with the General Assembly an annual impaired driving report identifying cases involving impaired and drunk driving, and Breathalyzer refusals.
In June of the most recent legislative session, David voted to strengthen the state’s social host law. The new language extended the reach of the law to make adults liable for underage drinking anywhere on their property, not just within the confines of a house. The legislation also increases the penalties associated with procuring alcohol for minors. The bill also addresses penalties for individuals under the age of 21 who possess and use fake identification to attempt to purchase liquor as well as those who manufacture and provide fake IDs to anyone under the age of 21. Within this legislation there was new language that increased penalties for the possession and/or transport of alcohol for anyone under the age of 21.
“Communities around Rhode Island, including our own, have had to deal with tragic losses from drinking and driving. I have been a consistent supporter and sponsor of laws to be tough on drunk drivers.”
In 2008, Representative Caprio tackled the growing issue of copper and related scrap metal theft by sponsoring House Bill 7482 requiring purchasers of second-hand materials to maintain identification records of the sellers of second-hand materials. Businesses and residences alike are victims of this growing crime spree with global communications giant AT&T reporting, in 2007, a whopping $6.7 million in copper theft damages.
“Copper and other scrap metal prices have risen over 300% in the past eight years and criminals have not turned a blind eye to this increase. If we require these dealers to maintain strict identification records, it will help eliminate the ability for these brazen criminals to offload their stolen scrap metal.”
David, a member of the House Judiciary Committee, was one of the early leaders on identify theft protection. The legislation spells out in great detail procedures for sale and disclosure of information, destruction of records, notification of breach of security and penalties for violation. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), a report released in 2007 revealed that 8.3 million American adults, or 3.7 percent of all American adults, were victims of identity theft in 2005. (source: http://www.ftc.gov/os/2007/11/SynovateFinalReportIDTheft2006.pdf)
Representative Caprio was proud to co-sponsor video voyeurism legislation that protects residents from virtual and electronic “Peeping Tom’s”. “The law needed to be modified to keep up with new consumer technology” said Caprio. ”We should all feel safe that our private actions in our homes are not subject to the perverted intentions of unknown onlookers.”