(File Photo of Representative Aaron Bernstine)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Harrisburg, PA) Legislation sponsored by Representative Aaron Bernstine (R-Butler/Lawrence) to crack down on the commercial exploitation of booking photographs, commonly known as mugshots, unanimously passed the Pennsylvania House yesterday in Harrisburg. House Bill 1585 would amend Pennsylvania’s Crimes Code to create a new criminal offense prohibiting the publication or dissemination of booking photographs for commercial gain. Under the legislation, anybody who publishes a mugshot and then solicits or accepts payment to remove, alter or conceal would be guilty of a second-degree misdemeanor that is punishable by up to two years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000. Each payment or solicitation would constitute a separate violation.