Cash for old cell phones would be a thumbprint away

Shoppers at malls would again be able to sell used smartphones for cash at ATM-like kiosks, under a bill sponsored by Rep. Joe Atkins (Inver Grove Heights).

Rep. Joe Atkins

HF1947 would undo an unintended consequence of Atkins’ 2014 so-called “kill switch” law, which stipulates that a “wireless communications device dealer shall pay for purchases of all used wireless communications devices by check mailed to a specific address or by electronic transfer.”

That part of the law put 15 smartphone-buying Eco-ATM kiosks out of business at shopping malls from Virginia to Rochester, according to John Knapp, an attorney representing the company, who testified Monday before the House Civil Law and Data Practices Committee.

The panel approved the bill and sent it to the House Rules and Legislative Administration Committee. There is no Senate companion.

The bill includes three proposed requirements. The kiosks would have to:

• report the transaction to local law enforcement;
• obtain a thumbprint from the seller; and
• disclose that information about the seller is provided to police.