New York State Cannot Activate Stolen Cell Phone.

From now on, stolen cell phones in New York State will be banned from opening service.

Governor Kathy Hokule signed a bill into law on the 26th.The bill, sponsored by State Senator Andrew Palumbo, would require mobile carriers operating in New York State to ban the opening of cell phone service based on reports of theft from the original owner.

The law nicknamed the “Brian Simonsen Criminal Defense Act,” was enacted in honor of the detective who was shot and killed by the suspect in a 2019-armed robbery at a T-Mobile store in Richmond Hill, Queens. “We expect this to help prevent cell phone theft by preventing cell phone thieves from stealing and reusing or selling other people’s phones,” said Governor Hochul.

Meanwhile, the bill will go into effect in March of next year.