Telemarketers Face Possible $5000 Fines

A bill that allows up to $5,000 civil penalty for any telemarketer calling anyone on no-call list, awaits Senate approval.

Are you tired of hearing from telemarketers interrupting your dinner every day? Well, fear no more!

A unanimously passed proposal, which still must still acquire final approval of the Senate before being sent to the Governor, allows up to $5,000 civil penalty for any telemarketer who knowingly call anyone on the no-call list. Anyone who receives more than one call from the same firm after being placed on the list can seek up to  $5,000 for each violating call.

Complaints From the Critics

While many people support the bill, as seen by its 118-0 decision, there are critics who were concerned that the bill would rob small businesses of important ways to make sales. However, the bills supporter rejects this claim stating "The question is, when does my telephone become an extension of your business?"

Nonetheless, the critics succeeded in adding language exempting from the penalties businesses that make fewer than 100 calls per week.

About the Bill

If passed, the bill would not take into full effect until July 2003. By January of that year, the attorney general must have established established a no-cost method for citizens to join the list. Currently, citizens can avoid getting the valls by telling each telemarketer to place them on its no-call list. However, the bill will seek to connect the lists into one huge database.

The proposal also bans telemarketers from disabling the Caller ID components on phones and requires them to include a toll-free number in which people can call and request to be on the no-call list.

Another Developing Bill with Greater Ramifications 

In an unrelated development, the Senate tabled a proposal that would place a tobacco money spending plan before the voters after anti-abortion language was added to the measure. This proposal is part of a larger on-going fight to ensure that no state money goes to abortions, which signaled a compromise by the Governor. He offered to sign a bill accompanying bill with softer anti-abortion language.

The conflict threatens to derail any decision on what to do with the session, Governor Ramirez, who is running for U.S. Senate, made spending the money on health projects on his major priorities. If the plan is derailed, he will be deprived of an issue to trumpet in the campaign.

Related Links:
National Do Not Call Registry
Planned Parenthood