If a couple of US Senators have their way, you will soon be required to show ID when purchasing pre-paid wireless in the United States.  Currently, anyone can walk into a cell phone shop and buy pre-paid service with no checks or hold-ups.

As the Consumerist points out, popular TV show The Wire shows that pre-paid mobile phones are used by gangsters, drug-dealers, and all sorts of people of ill intent.

A bi-partisan group of Senators is sponsoring a bill that would give vendors the ability to ID purchasers.  This practice is not totally off base; when I’ve travelled to Spain and UK, I was required to give up my passport number when buying a pre-paid SIM.

What do you think – is this out of line or a necessary precautionary measure?