CrimProf Alafair Burke Comments on New Trash Privacy Law

From newsday.com: Hofstra University School of Law CrimProf Alafair Burke comments on new Lake Grove, New York villiage ordiance which makes it illegal to go through the garbage in a closed trash can.

The law aims to stop identity thieves, but anyone caught with their hand in the trash can without the owner's written permission can face criminal prosecution. The new law also applies to police and authorities must now get a search warrant from a judge before poking through a suspect's refuse.

Alafair Burke called Lake Grove's ordinance a "novel criminal prohibition" that targets what once was a permissible activity. "Over the last eight years, it's become increasingly common for lawmakers to try to criminalize activity that is a precursor to identity theft," Burke said.

Rest of Article. . . [Mark Godsey]