Debit card scans by police allowed in Assembly bill

CARSON CITY — The Assembly Judiciary Committee voted Thursday to advance a stripped-down version of a bill that would have allowed authorities to conduct secret searches on electronic communications and seize funds on prepaid debit cards without a warrant.

Senate Bill 82 was amended so that what remains is the ability of law enforcement to read information on prepaid debit cards to help investigate money-smuggling by drug dealers or financing for terrorists.

“We think this is a good step forward for law enforcement,” said Assistant Attorney General Keith Munro, whose office sponsored the bill. “The days of criminals carrying suitcases full of cash I won’t say have ended, but they’re now carrying prepaid (debit) cards. This will allow law enforcement the ability to read those cards and use them in prosecution of those cases.”

Munro said having the power to read the debit cards also will help his office to demonstrate at a future legislative session the need to be able to seize funds on prepaid cards.