Griffo Seeks More Severe Penalties For Telemarketers

State Senator Joseph Griffo is introducing legislation that would create more severe penalties for telemarketers who continue to harass people who have registered with the National Do Not Call Registry.

He says many individuals registered with the database still report being bothered by these annoying invasions of their privacy.

Griffo's legislation would nearly double the penalty to $20,000 for every call that violates the registry.  Currently in New York, a business can be fined up to $11,000 for every call that violates the registry.

The federal Do Not Call list is not working as well as it should be, as my constituents continue to tell me they are still getting these bothersome calls from telemarketers,” said Griffo, who chairs the Senate Telecommunications and Energy Committee.

Griffo was joined at the North Utica Senior Center today by Laura Palmer, the Associate State Director of AARP Mohawk Valley, who offered her support for the legislation.

To register your phone number in the Do Not Call Registry or to report a complaint of receiving an unwanted telemarketing call, go to donotcall.gov or call 1-888-382-1222.