HARRISBURG – Legislation sponsored by Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R-Butler/Lawrence) to crack down on the commercial exploitation of booking photographs, commonly known as mugshots, unanimously passed the House yesterday.
House Bill 1585 would amend Pennsylvania’s Crimes Code to create a new criminal offense prohibiting the publication or dissemination of booking photographs for commercial gain. Under the legislation, anyone who publishes a mugshot and then solicits or accepts payment to remove, alter or conceal it would be guilty of a second-degree misdemeanor, punishable by up to two years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000.
“This legislation is about protecting people from being exploited for profit,” said Bernstine.
If enacted, Pennsylvania would join more than 16 other states in the country with similar laws prohibiting the practice of charging individuals to remove booking photographs from websites.
The bill now advances to the Senate for consideration.