Bernstine to reintroduce bill to halt commercial publishing of mugshots
State Rep. Aaron Bernstine, R-8th, plans to reintroduce legislation to the Pennsylvania General Assembly aimed at stopping the commercial use of booking photographs, known as mugshots, by individuals and websites that charge people to have their photos removed.
According to a release, the House bill would amend the state’s crimes code to create a new offense that prohibits publishing or disseminating mugshots for commercial use.
Anyone who violates the offense would be guilty of a second-degree misdemeanor, carrying a penalty of up to two years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000, the release said. Each payment or solicitation would count as a separate violation.
If passed by the House and Senate and signed into law by the governor, Pennsylvania would join more than 16 states with a similar prohibition, the release said.
