Hawaii Lawmakers Pass 3 Cybercrime Measures

Hawaii lawmakers have approved a trio of bills aimed at preventing cybercrimes.

The bills offer law enforcement and prosecutors more tools to charge and penalize those who use computers to commit crimes.

One bill allows judges to collect electronic evidence held by mainland organizations. Another makes it easier to prosecute those who use computers to knowingly harass victims.

A third bill increases penalties for various cybercrimes, such as identity theft. It also creates a new felony offense for computer fraud in the third degree — an aggravated form of theft, according to Republican Reps. Kymberly Marcos Pine and George Fontaine.

Pine says the cybercrime package gives victims hope their perpetrators can be prosecuted. She wants Hawaii to be one of the toughest states in the nation on cybercriminals.