RCMP WANTS PHOTO ID ALONG WITH CELLPHONE PURCHASE

ST. JOHN'S - The RCMP drug squad in Newfoundland and Labrador would
like to see people buying cellular phones and other wireless
communications devices obliged to present photo identification.

Sgt. Greg Smith says officers have a hard time investigating some drug
dealers because they can buy many phones and remain anonymous.

"A lot of people are using false names, getting other people to get
the phone in their names, and things like this," says Smith. "It's
hard to keep up and keep track of all of these things."

One recent investigation lasted more than five months and cost more
than $100,000. Police say it was because the suspect used 11 different
phones, none of which was in his name.

The police want to be able to monitor the calls and find out who's on
them. That's easier when people are using regular telephones that have
known owners and fixed addresses.

Stores don't require the name of a cellphone purchaser.

Retailers say they have no reason not to sell phones to anyone who can
afford one, and they're under no obligation to ask for
identification.

Dealer Caught Just Outside the Store

Lamonte Clarke, a sales associate at a Radio Shack outlet in St.
John's, says one person bought 54 phones over six months.

"He came into the store, and he used to buy a lot of cell phones, buy
pre-paid cell phone cards, that kind of stuff," says Clarke "They
found him actually dealing outside the store."

"You shouldn't just be able to use any name, and buy a telephone and
put it in anybody else's name and go ahead and use it," says the
RCMP's Smith. "It's causing us some real challenges."

Defence lawyer Bob Simmonds says he doesn't care about the challenges
faced by police.

"I am not going to feel very happy if I want to go in and buy
something at Radio Shack, and they say, 'you're going to fill out this
information.'"

"Perhaps it's just me, but I have a real aversion to providing the
state or Big Brother with information...because they say they have a
certain concern," Simmonds says.

He says even criminals have a right to privacy.