12:00 PM CST on Friday, March 4, 2005

By Eileen Faxas / 11 News

Identity theft is the type of crime that can not only wipe you out your bank account, but also keep you from getting a job, getting credit and possibly put your entire life on hold.

That's one reason why KHOU is hosting our first-ever Shred Day for our viewers.

It's a way for you to destroy documents that contain private, financial information you wouldn't want anyone else to see and that you no longer need.

It's happening at Amerishred of Texas for and the shredders have been busy with people who are eager to get rid of statements, receipts, old tax forms and other kinds of things a thief could use to steal your identity.

Identity theft has gotten so big, some Texas legislators want to make shredding the law.

Writer Jayne Hitchcock almost lost her job. "My life was turned upside down," she says.

One 11-year-old child had an open line of credit an a woman was mistaken for a drug addict and couldn't get a job.

All three were victims of identity theft.

Representative Brian McCall is sick of the horror stories. "Unfortunately, the power of an individual to do harm in this world is greater than it's ever been," he says.

As a result, he is proposing a shredding law to put the power back into the hands of honest people.

"Businesses that gather and retain information must destroy it in a proper way to keep people from going through the agony and hell of identity theft," says Rep. McCall.

The law would affect places from banks to doctor's offices to shoe shops -- any business that has your personal information. That information could include where you live, your social security number, your driver's license or a credit card number.

Too often these businesses toss that information in the trash when they're done with it. That's where identity thieves go dumpster diving.

But McCall thinks a penalty of $1,000 might would get businesses to shred instead.

"It's going to make it harder for those doing bad to do their evil work," McCall says.

Another shredding bill has been proposed in the state senate and that one has a $2,000 penalty for businesses that are careless with customer information.

If either bill passes, it would go into effect this September.

In the meantime you can take care of shredding your own documents at Amerishred, located at Long Point and Hempstead Highway. They'll be open until 8 p.m. Friday night and 9 a.m. until noon Saturday.