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.