Ceretto votes for domestic violence protections

Assemblyman John Ceretto voted Tuesday in favor of new protections for victims of domestic violence. The legislation (A7720) makes it a crime of stalking in the fourth degree to follow someone against his or her will by using a GPS or other electronic device. Ceretto's camp said many domestic violence victims are stalked by an abuser. This measure will help protect these victims.

"As technology progresses, our laws need to keep up with the advancements," Ceretto said. "Criminals are using more sophisticated methods to break the law, with serial stalkers now employing GPS to track their victims.

"This legislation keeps our laws in line with the new methods that criminals can use. It ensures that victims of domestic violence receive the protections they need and deserve."

While Ceretto considers this legislation a good step in the right direction, he also reaffirmed his commitment to pass the domestic violence protections in the Women's Equality Act. These protections, which allow victims of domestic violence to file for orders of protection electronically and strengthen those orders of protection, have strong bipartisan support. However, these bills are being held up for political reasons. Ceretto renewed his call for a vote on these bills on their own separate merits so that domestic violence victims can get the protections they deserve.