A bill before Washington lawmakers would make it a misdemeanor to try to pass off fake vaccination cards and a felony to sell them.
Bill sponsor, Senator Jesse Salomon, a Democrat from Shoreline spoke Monday before the Senate Law and Justice Committee:
“This is really about truth in advertising,” he said. “I think people who are medically vulnerable who want to go to a place that has vaccine requirements, should be able to go there without wondering or experiencing somebody using false vaccines and possibly infecting them. It's a matter of fairness.”
Yakima County Commissioner Amanda McKinney called the vaccine card requirement draconian.
“Are we really going to call 911, and charge an 18-year-old for providing a fake vaccination card to enter a concert,” she said, “or are we going to charge his mother with a felony for printing and assisting her son to fill out the card?”
If passed, those convicted of a misdemeanor face a $1,000 dollar fine, and up to ninety days in jail. Those convicted of a felony could face a $10,000 fine and five years in prison.
