Pubdate: Sat, 24 Feb 2007
Source: Galesburg Register-Mail (IL)
Copyright: 2007 Galesburg Register-Mail
Contact: http://www.register-mail.com/news/letters/index.html
Website: http://www.register-mail.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3864
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

BILL TAKES AIM AT METH 'PILL SHOPPERS' INCREASES PENALTIES FOR USE OF BOGUS ID

SPRINGFIELD - State Sen. John Sullivan, D-Rushville, introduced 
legislation which will significantly bolster the punishment for 
buying over-the-counter ingredients for methamphetamine production 
with a fake or borrowed ID. The bill unanimously passed out of the 
Senate Judiciary Criminal Law Committee on Wednesday.

Methamphetamine production is one of the biggest problems facing 
west-central Illinois police departments.

"At a meeting with local law enforcement last fall, I was surprised 
to learn that criminals who use a fake ID to buy medicine containing 
ephedrine or pseudoephedrine are not charged under the criminal 
code," said Senator Sullivan. "With this legislation we send the 
message that if you misrepresent your identity to buy the ingredients 
to make meth, you face severe consequences."

Under current law, criminals face a misdemeanor when using a fake ID 
to buy ingredients to make methamphetamine. The passage of Senate 
Bill 55 would increase this to a Class 4 felony - one to three years 
in prison/$25,000 fine - for first time offenders, a Class 3 felony - 
two to five years/$25,000 fine - for a second offense, and a third or 
subsequent offense would be a Class 2 felony, punishable by up to 
three to seven years in prison and a $25,000 fine.

According to the bill, pharmacies and retail distributors, along with 
the employee(s), who violate this act will also face more strict 
penalties for first and repeat offenses.

Sullivan said his legislation is directed at closing a loophole that 
allows "pill shoppers" using fake driver's licenses and other false 
identification to avoid the purchase limit quantity restrictions 
placed on medicines that contain chemicals used in the manufacture of 
methamphetamine.

"This bill will provide another tool to help law enforcement in our 
continued efforts to fight against the illegal production of meth by 
creating stronger penalties for individuals using fraudulent 
identification to purchase pseudoephdrine," said Master Sgt. Bruce 
Liebe of the Illinois State Police who was in Springfield on 
Wednesday to testify in support of Sullivan's proposal. "We at the 
ISP are grateful that this bill would provide enhanced penalties for 
criminals trying to beat the system and purchase large quantities of 
meth precursors by using false identification."

Liebe is the ISP's leading meth expert and has served as an expert 
witness in both state and federal court regarding methamphetamine 
production and distribution.

The bill will now move to the full Senate for consideration.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman