DENVER—Was that REALLY Mitt Romney on the phone? How did Barack Obama get my phone number?
Lawmakers are hoping to hang up on those pesky automated phone calls with two proposals, one targeted at politicians and another that would end nearly all so-called robocalls.
“Robocalls generate more complaints than any other issue, as most people are very annoyed and consider them an invasion of privacy. Courts have upheld robocall bans in other states, and I believe it is time that Colorado considers rescuing its citizens from this relentless onslaught,” said Attorney General John Suthers, who is backing the movement to limit such calls.
A plan backed by Suthers (Senate Bill 146) would exempt automated calls from a school to students, parents or employees, and reverse 911 emergency calls from authorities. Violators could be slapped with a $2,500 fine per violation.
Sen. Moe Keller, D-Wheat Ridge, is sponsoring another proposal that is not as strict because she wants to allow charitable organizations like Disabled American Veterans to let donors know they are making pickups, and allow lawmakers to advise constituents of town meetings on short notice.
Keller said most of her constituents want automated phone calls banned outright.
“They hate them, absolutely hate them,” she said.
Keller said the main targets of her bill (Senate Bill 48) are the political candidates who are using the so-called “robocalls” as dirty tricks to target their opponents, calling late at night or early in the morning anonymously pretending to support their opponents. Her bill would ban calls between 9 p.m. and 8 a.m.
Violators could be charged with a misdemeanor subject to six months in jail and a $500 fine.
Both bills are expected to be heard Wednesday in the Senate State, Veterans, & Military Affairs Committee.
Other bills coming up this week:
— A measure (Senate Bill 66) to be heard Monday in the Senate Judiciary Committee that reduces first degree murder to a class 2 felony if the defendant was under 18 years of age at the time of the offense, was convicted as an adult, and did not commit or assist in committing the homicidal act. Makes a defendant convicted of class 2 felony first degree murder eligible for sentencing to the youthful offender system.
— A bill (Senate Bill 104) that would make dealing in unlawfully packaged recorded articles a felony if the offense involves more than 100 articles on which sound is recorded or if the defendant has previously been convicted of the offense. It also would requires a law enforcement officer confiscate all recorded articles that constitute a theft of sound recordings offense and all equipment and components used to manufacture the recordings. Lawmakers have asked recording artists to testify in favor of the bill.
