Drew Wilson
A bill that requires gas stations to toughen up security and increases penalties for fuel pump fraudsters cleared its first Senate panel Monday.
Senate Bill 912 would require gas stations to secure fuel pump credit card readers to defend against data theft devices, known as “skimmers,” that capture credit and debit card information. The bill also ups the punishment for credit card theft to a second-degree felony, which carries up to a 15-year prison sentence and $10,000 fine, and lowers the threshold from 10 stolen cards to five.
The bill, sponsored by Miami Republican Sen. Anitere Flores, is a priority of Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, whose department inspects pumps at Florida gas stations.
“We estimate that $1,000 is stolen from each victim of a skimmer, and this legislation will better protect consumers from identity theft at gas pumps,” Putnam said. “I thank Senator Anitere Flores and the Criminal Justice Committee for their support of legislation to better protect consumers.”
Florida Sheriffs Association, the Florida Police Chiefs Association, and the Florida Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association are also backing the bill.
The bill passed with slight changes from Sen. Rob Bradley to clarify compliance requirements for gas station owners and operators. The bill now moves to the Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government, chaired by Umatilla Republican Sen. Alan Hays.
The House companion, sponsored by Rep. Dana Young, cleared its first panel last week with a unanimous vote. That version received a similar amendment, offered by Republican Rep. Ross Spano. House Bill 761 now heads to the House Appropriations Committee.
