LANSING, Mich. (WSYM) - What some of you might consider responsible parenting, the state considers a felony. We're talking about eavesdropping on your kids' phone conversations. FOX 47's Marcus Dash tells us why it might not be a crime for much longer.
The punishment for eavesdropping on your child's conversations is up to two years in prison and a $2,000 fine. Representative Peter Lucido sponsored a bill to get rid of that. He tells me parents can't properly raise their kids with a law like this hanging over their heads. Parents I talked with today, agreed.
"A parent doing the right thing and is going to face charges for doing their job as a parent? It's just asinine," said Kevin Ryal.
"When you have a minor child, you should be able to look at what they do and where they're going, and there shouldn't be a penalty for that," said Julie Hill.
It's not just phone calls. Representative Peter Lucido tells me the law applies to forms of communication as well. Parents say they can't risk being hands-off online.
"That's your job as a parent to watch and monitor what they are doing on social media on the internet," said Hill.
Most of the parents that I talked to said they didn't like this law and even kids who want their privacy told me this law is too harsh.
"They just like shouldn't be able to look at your texts and junk without any punishment, but I don't it should be two years in jail," said Noah Campbell.
"I don't think parents should get two years in jail and a $2,000 punishment for looking at your phone," Jacob Berry.
Parents told me privacy is great and all, but if kids are living under their roof then parents have every right to monitor their activity.
"You pay their bills, you pay that phone bill, you pay that internet bill, you should be able to watch what they're doing," said Hill.
The Ingham County prosecutors office told me it hasn't charged any parents with eavesdropping on their kids. There was a case in Macomb County where a father was charged with listening to his son's phone conversation. He eventually pleaded guilty to a lesser charge.
The bill passed by a vote of 105 to 3 in the house. We'll let you know if the state senate votes.
