Video game legislation proposal: videogame ID checks

Yet another bill has just been introduced in relation to video games. Representative Lee Terry and Jim Matheson essentially want to apply a scheme to limit access. How exactly? Through an identification check to be done by retailers. Head over the full article for more details.

Two House members have introduced a new bill that will make video game retailers perform identification checks in order to prohibit minors from purchasing games meant for adults. The people behind this bill are Lee Terry (R-Neb.) and Jim Matheson (D-Utah).

Last Wednesday, the pair introduced the bill known as the Video Games Ratings Enforcement Act so that kids “can only access age appropriate content without parental permission,” said Terry.

This bill will put a requirement of ID checks before consumers can fully purchase video games that have have been given Mature (M) or Adult Only (AO) ratings, presumably by the ESRB.

Furthermore, retailers will have to post the ratings system in their respective stores for people to have a proper knowledge on the ratings of the video games. Those who fail to follow this regulation will be fined a civil penalty of about US$ 5,000.

Even though numerous bills have been turned down in the past, Terry is keeping his hopes up for this particular bill. He explained:

This bill doesnÂ’t involve itself in content or defining the standards for “mature” or “adults only”. It simply requires the retailer to post what the industry has defined as “mature” and “adults only” so that parents can know, and requires checking of identification.

This is certainly an interesting take on making bills for video games and children, just like the “games-as-porn” bill in Massachusetts and the “ultra violent” game bill in Oregon. Question is, how will the bill fare? Only time will tell. We’ll keep you guys updated on the developments of this matter.

Via Variety