Tougher sanctions for point-of-sale skimming receive strong House support

A skimmer can capture identifying information regarding someone off of their credit or debit card. It is often associated with gasoline pumps, but ATM machines have also been targets.

Rep. Bob Loonan (R-Shakopee) is proposing tougher penalties that supporters hope can be a deterrent to would-be thieves and give law enforcement tools they need and want to deal with these individuals.

Passed 123-0 by the House Monday, HF817 would expand the state’s unauthorized computer access crime to include interference with point-of-sale terminals to collect information from debit, credit or similar cards.

Rep. Bob Loonan

It now goes to the Senate, where Sen. Eric Pratt (R-Prior Lake) is the sponsor.

“This deals with identity theft,” Loonan said, noting tools criminals use are getting more sophisticated.

WATCH Full video of Monday's House Floor session

A representative of the Minnesota Bankers Association told a House committee earlier this session the number of debit cards compromised in 2016 was up 70 percent from one year prior. Numbers also increased by 40 percent in the first half of 2017.

The bill would make it a felony to access or attempt to access “an electronic terminal through opening any panel or access door without authorization and placing or attaching, or attempting to place or attach, an electronic device to capture, store, or communicate access device information.”

It would be a gross misdemeanor to try and access an ATM, gas pump or similar device by opening, or attempting to open, a panel or access door without authorization in a manner that creates a risk to public health and safety.

The statutory definition of authorization would be expanded to include limited time access for Department of Commerce employees, meter inspectors and people with “express permission of the device owner or operator” or their designee only at times and for purposes approved by the device owner or operator.