Montana § 46-24-220 - Identity Theft Passport -- Application -- Issuance -- Uses -- Penalty For False Report

§ 46-24-220. Identity Theft Passport -- Application -- Issuance -- Uses -- Penalty For False Report

Identity theft passport -- application -- issuance -- uses -- penalty for false report. (1) (a) The attorney general, in cooperation with any law enforcement agency, may issue an identity theft passport to a person who is a victim of identity theft in this state or to a resident of this state who has filed a police report in this state or another state citing that the person is a victim of identity theft as described in 45-6-332 . (b) A victim who has filed a report of identity theft with a law enforcement agency may apply for an identity theft passport through any law enforcement agency. The agency shall send a copy of the police report and the application to the attorney general. (c) For a resident who became an identity theft victim in another state, the victim may apply directly to the department of justice and shall provide a copy of the police report or other substantial evidence of having filed a complaint. (d) The attorney general shall process the application and supporting report and may issue the victim an identity theft passport in the form of a card or certificate. (2) (a) A victim of identity theft may present the victim's identity theft passport issued under subsection (1) to any of the following: (i) a law enforcement agency to help prevent the victim's arrest or detention for an offense committed by someone other than the victim who is using the victim's identity; (ii) any of the victim's creditors to aid in the creditors' investigation and establishment of whether fraudulent charges were made against accounts in the victim's name or whether accounts were opened using the victim's identity; or (iii) a consumer reporting agency, as defined in 31-3-102 , which shall accept the passport as the direct conveyance of a dispute under 31-3-124 and shall include notice of the dispute in all future reports that contain disputed information caused by identity theft. (b) Acceptance of the identity theft passport presented by the victim to a law enforcement agency or creditor pursuant to subsection (2)(a) is at the discretion of the law enforcement agency or creditor. A law enforcement agency or creditor may consider the surrounding circumstances and available information regarding the offense of identity theft pertaining to the victim. (c) An identity theft passport is equivalent to a police report or investigative report when a police report or investigative report is required as proof that the holder is a victim of identity theft. (3) An application made with the attorney general pursuant to subsection (1), including any supporting documentation, is confidential criminal justice information, as defined in 44-5-103 , and must be disseminated accordingly. (4) The attorney general shall adopt rules to implement this section. The rules must include a procedure by which the attorney general is assured that an identity theft passport applicant has an identity theft claim that is legitimate and adequately substantiated. (5) A person who knowingly gives a false report to obtain an identity theft passport is guilty of a felony and upon conviction shall be punished as provided by law and by revocation of the passport.