Carpino Votes to Add Text Messages to CT ‘Do Not Call’ List

In our electronic driven society where unwanted text messages are both annoying and costly, State Rep. Christie Carpino (Cromwell & Portland) voted to ban unsolicited commercial text messages to consumers in the House of Representatives Friday May 2nd.

SB-209, An Act Prohibiting Unsolicited Commercial Text Messages and Increasing Penalties for Violations of the ‘Do Not Call’ Registry, explicitly prohibits telephone solicitors from sending unsolicited text or media messages to (1) anyone registered on the state “Do Not Call” registry without prior express written consent and (b) sending unsolicited texts at any time during the day.

Rep. Carpino said, “My constituents in Cromwell and Portland who have gone through the trouble of placing their name on a federal or state do-not-call registry should be protected from wireless phone charges triggered by telemarketing calls including text messages.”

Under the bill, a text message is a written message sent electronically to a mobile telephone’s or mobile electronic device’s telephone number. It does not include electronic mail sent to an electronic mail address. In addition to the registry requirements, the bill allows solicitors to send text messages for marketing or soliciting sales of consumer goods, or causes them to be sent, only if he or she has received the customer’s prior written consent to receive such texts.

The bill also increases the maximum fine for each registry violation from $11,000 to $20,000. By law and under the bill, “Do Not Call” violations are also deemed an unfair and deceptive trade practice.

The proposal has been endorsed by the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP).