New Legislation Being Pushed To Curb "Swatting" In New Jersey

By Kim Glovas

TRENTON, N.J. (CBS) -- A New Jersey lawmaker is renewing his push for a law to increase penalties against those who target video gamers. There have been three recent cases in New Jersey where suspects reportedly have sent police to their homes on false pretenses.

Assemblyman Paul Moriarty says the practice is called "swatting" because the intended gamer-victim gets swarmed by SWAT teams, after a false call about a hostage situation at the victim's home. Moriarty says the people calling in the false report are watching the whole thing because the gamer is streaming online. He says first responders are also diverted from important work.

"They could be diverted from somewhere where there's a true emergency," Moriarty says. "And not only that, you're putting all the emergency responders and the unsuspecting victim in harm's way, because when people break into a house, anything could go wrong. Someone can grab a weapon, there could be a shootout, someone could be seriously injured or killed."

Moriarty's bill would increase jail time from a maximum of the current five years, to 10-years and/or a fine of up to $150,000.