News
from
Assemblywoman
Vivian E. Cook



Winter 2003


Seasons Greetings

Winter 2003

Dear Neighbors:

As the holiday season is upon us we should take extra measures to prevent identity theft. Identity theft occurs when your personal information such as your name, social security number, date of birth, telephone numbers, bank accounts and credit card information is used by thieves for fraudulent purposes. Often this information is used to open new accounts, make large purchases, or drain your bank accounts. Identity theft is a very serious matter that affects millions of Americans each year. As we continue to advance in the field of computers and technology it is more important than ever to take whatever steps necessary to protect personal information. In order to reduce your chances of becoming a victim of this crime, please read the article on Tips to Prevent Identity Theft. By protecting your personal information, you will greatly reduce the chance of this happening to you.

As a reminder, this holiday season please be aware of scams and fraud. There are a number of scams including work at home, college, sweepstakes, health insurance, charity scams, and home equity fraud. This is the time of year when most Americans give to charities. While there are many organizations and charities that are honest and provide important services to those in need, unfortunately many, do not. If you have concerns about a company, organization, or charity you plan to do business with, you should take a minute to check credentials before you pay or donate money. For your assistance, I have provided telephone numbers of agencies and organizations that will help you weed out the bad from the good.

This news report also includes articles on the new graduated license la so young drivers are aware of the new rules to help them become safe and responsible drivers, and the pension reform to protect retirees and local taxpayers. Please take a moment to read this report on consumer tips and new laws. The information is provided to help you better protect yourself from fraud and keep you informed on the new laws for New York State.

In closing, if you need any additional information or further assistance, please feel free to stop by or call my office at (718) 322-3975. Best wishes for an enjoyable holiday season and may you have a healthy and prosperous New Year.

Sincerely,

Vivian E. Cook



Assemblymember Cook joins Speaker Sheldon Silver along with Christopher Reeves and Assembly colleagues at a press conference to unveil legislation aimed at fostering biomedical research. The legislation, A.6249, would allow stem cell research to continue while completely prohibiting reproductive cloning. Stem cell research is vital to develop new treatment and prevention methods that may help those stricken with spinal cord injuries, infertility, and Alzheimer’s disease.



WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THE NEW GRADUATED LICENSE LAW

Driving is a big responsibility. Once you get behind the wheel there is the potential to harm not only yourself and your passengers, but also others on the road. The Assembly passed a new law allowing motorists under 18 to learn the rules of the road at a pace that ensures they are better prepared for this serious responsibility. Drivers under the age of 18 who apply for a learner’s permit on or after Sept. 1, 2003 will be required to hold the permit for a minimum of six months and obtain 20 supervised hours of driving before they will be eligible to take a road test and obtain a junior license. All permit holders and junior licensees under 18 regardless of whether they obtained their permit or license before or after Sept. 1 will have to follow a few other new rules to help ensure they become safe, reliable drivers. Please review the details about the new graduated license law that will help make sure young drivers are prepared for their new responsibilities.


Highlights of Graduated Licensing Law

Learner Permits

  • 6 month holding period before road test can be scheduled (if permit is obtained on or after 9/1/03)

  • Supervising driver must be 21 years old (Currently 18)

  • All occupants must be in seat belts or appropriate child safety seat

  • Front seat passenger can only be supervising driver

  • Passenger restrictions: only 2 under the age of 21 who are not immediate family members; doesn’t apply if accompanied by parent, guardian, driver’s ed teacher or driving instructor

  • 20 hours experience required in order to get junior license (if permit is obtained on or after 9/1/03)

  • Suspension/Revocation for “serious” traffic violations (3 points or more) such as: reckless driving, speeding more than 10 mph over the limit, following too closely, failing to obey stop/yield signs, failing to obey traffic signals, or for 2 or more “minor” traffic infractions (2 points or less)

Limited Junior Licenses

  • Can be obtained prior to expiration of six month permit holding period

  • Valid only for operation to/from school, work, medical appointments, day care, any other place, if accompanied by licensed parent

  • Not valid for operation in the following counties: Nassau, Suffolk, Kings, Queens, New York, Bronx, Richmond, Westchester, Rockland or Putnam (i.e. all 16/17 year olds are eligible to receive the limited junior license regardless of place of residence, but all persons holding such limited license are barred from driving in the aforementioned counties)

  • All occupants must be in seat belts or appropriate child safety seats

  • Passenger restrictions: only 2 under the age of 21 who are not immediate family members; doesn’t apply if accompanied by parent, guardian, driver’s ed teacher or driving instructor

  • Suspension/Revocation: for “serious” traffic violations (3 points or more) such as: reckless driving, speeding more than 10 mph over the limit, following too closely, failing to obey stop/yield signs, failing to obey traffic signals, or for 2 or more “minor” traffic infractions (2 points or less)

Junior Licenses

  • Must be at least 16.5 years of age

  • All occupants must be in seat belts or appropriate child safety seats

  • Passenger restrictions: only 2 under the age of 21 who are not immediate family members; doesn’t apply if accompanied by parent, guardian, driver’s ed teacher or driving instructor

  • Suspension/Revocation for serious traffic violations (3 points or more) such as: reckless driving, speeding more than 10 mph over the limit, following too closely, failing to obey stop/yield signs, failing to obey traffic signals, or for 2 or more “minor” traffic infractions (2 points or less)

For more information on driving safely, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration at www.nhtsa.dot.gov or the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles at www.nydmv.state.ny.us.


COOK ANNOUNCES PENSION REFORMS TO PROTECT RETIREES AND LOCAL TAXPAYERS

Assemblymember Cook has announced recent state pension reforms she supported to protect retirees by strengthening the retirement system while avoiding huge increases in costs to state and local governments and property taxpayers (Chapter 39 of 2003).

Assemblymember Cook noted that the recent volatility in the stock market threatened pension fund investments and placed a huge financial burden on local governments. Under the new law, which State Comptroller Alan Hevesi helped author, pension costs to state and local governments would be reduced, saving localities $1.6 billion.

“Retirees should not spend their golden years worrying they will not be able to support themselves nor should local taxpayers be forced to pay sudden, steep tax increases to stabilize the state pension fund,” said Assemblymember Cook.

The measure will protect pension benefits by setting minimum employer contributions and making their annual contributions more predictable to avoid sudden increases in pension costs. The measure also allows governments to receive one-time financing of pension costs to alleviate an expensive burden many are facing this year.

“These improvements, which would not have been possible without the input of the comptroller, local governments, unions and retirees, will help ensure that nearly one million members of the state retirement system and their families have the peace of mind they need,” said Assemblymember Cook.



ASSEMBLYMEMBER COOK: IDENTITY THEFT LAW PROTECTS NEW YORKERS’ BANK ACCOUNTS

Assemblymember Cook announced that a bill she supported to help prevent identity theft has been signed into law and will soon be in effect (Ch. 499 of 2003). The new law requires merchants to remove expiration dates of debit and credit cards from electronically created printed receipts. It also requires that no more than the last five digits of the account number appear on the receipt.

Our society increasingly relies on debit and credit cards that create receipts with our personal information every time we make a transaction. This system is convenient, but it is also an easy target for thieves to obtain account numbers and rack-up illegal charges. The new law helps to protect consumers from this kind of theft.

The Federal Trade Commission reported that in the past five years over 27 million Americans have been victims of identity theft. In the past year, close to 10 million people were victims of this crime, and paid $5 billion in out-of-pocket expenses. Businesses and financial institutions faced $48 billion in expenses.

All new credit and debit-card machines must comply if they are placed into service on or after January 1, 2004. Machines in use before then have until January 1, 2007 to meet the new standards. The maximum civil penalty for not complying with the law is $4,500.

This new law creates better protection from identity theft for the people of New York. The number of Americans who are faced with this violation every year is skyrocketing, and it is essential that we do more to curb this trend.

TIPS ON PREVENTING IDENTITY THEFT

Preventing identity theft, maintaining a good credit rating, and understanding your rights as a credit consumer are important to your overall financial well-being. It is always a good idea to review your credit report to make sure the information reported is accurate. If you have any questions regarding the report, you should contact the credit bureau or the entity where the information originated.

Here are some tips to help protect personal information and prevent identity theft:

  • Take your first name off your checks and use your initials and last name.

  • Keep personal information in a safe place.

  • Give your social security number only when absolutely necessary or ask to use another form of ID.

  • Decrease the number of unsolicited credit card applications that you receive.

  • Write “ask for ID” rather than your signature on credit cards so that retailers check your signature.

  • Keep track of your mail. Inquire about bills you do not receive around the same time each month. If you are over a week late check with creditors to make sure your mailing address is correct and your mail is not going to the wrong place.

  • Carefully dispose of any documents that contain your personal information by shredding it. Make sure all pre-approved credit cards are destroyed.

  • Beware of some companies that claim to be identity theft prevention services. They are often guises for obtaining personal information from you. Do not give out personal information over the telephone or online unless you are familiar with the business that is asking for it.

  • When mailing a payment to a creditor, do not put your Social Security number or telephone number on your check. When using a check to purchase items, a business may require a telephone number to be written on the check but it should not be pre-printed on the check itself. It is illegal in New York State for a business to require you to put account numbers or your social security number on a check.

  • Use caution when at an ATM and be wary of the people around you.

  • When making purchases or applying for credit on the Internet make sure that the site is secure and protects credit card information. A site is secure if the address begins with “https”.

  • Carry only the credit cards you plan on using and avoid carrying your social security card.

It is advised by the NYS Consumer Protection Bureau that if you are a victim of identify theft you should contact the three major credit bureaus provided below and ask that a “fraud alert” be placed on your file and that no new credit be granted without your approval. If you are a victim of a scam, call your local police department and report the crime, alert neighbors and community organizations to the presence of scam artists in your area, and contact the Consumer Protection Board at 1-800-NYS-1220.

CREDIT BUREAUS
EQUIFAX
1-800-685-1111 		ESPERIAN (formally TRW)
1-888-397-3742 		TRANS UNION
1-800-888-4213

If your checks are stolen or lost, notify the bank immediately and stop payment on all missing checks. You should also contact the major check verification companies:

CHECK VERIFICATION COMPANIES

Cross Check
1-707-586-0431

Equifax Check System
1-800-437-5120

International Check Services
1-800-526-5380

For information about a particular charity contact:

The National Charities Information Bureau
19 Union Square West , New York, NY 10003
(212) 929-6300
www.give.org

Health Insurance Questions/Scams
New York State Insurance Department
1-800-342-3736
www.ins.state.ny.us

Home Equity Fraud
When considering loans using your home as collateral to ensure that the lender is licensed and reputable contact:
New York State Banking Department
1-800-522-3330

Work at Home Scams
Federal Trade Commission
1-877-382-4357

Better Business Bureau
(212) 533-6200
www.newyork.bbb.org


WHERE TO CONTACT
ASSEMBLYMEMBER COOK

Albany Office
LOB – Room 331
Albany, NY 12248
(518) 455-4203

District Office
142-15 Rockaway Blvd.
Jamaica, NY 11436
(718) 322-3975

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