Did you know there are specific laws governing paper shredding?

Many Houstonians are unaware of the legal requirements for properly disposing of records containing personal information. The Texas Attorney General takes identity theft prevention very seriously. Regardless of whether the information has been involved in a crime or the age of the documents, improperly disposing of sensitive records can result in a company or individual being held accountable by the Attorney General’s office. This can lead to significant legal consequences, including large settlement payments to the state and substantial legal fees.

The Texas Attorney General’s Office conducts routine inspections across the state to ensure compliance with document disposal laws. However, improper disposal of sensitive records is often discovered by a neighboring business, concerned citizen, or local law enforcement. When this happens, it frequently attracts media attention, leaving businesses to explain their actions under the scrutiny of the public.

Under  Texas Business and Commerce Code, all businesses are required to maintain a document retention and disposal policy. Noncompliance can result in fines of up to $500 per improperly disposed record. Additionally, the Identity Theft Enforcement Act imposes penalties of up to $50,000 per violation for mishandling a single record. Businesses that promise to safeguard client information can face additional fines of up to $20,000 per violation if they fail to properly dispose of sensitive documents. Compliance is essential to protect your business from these costly consequences.

Unfortunately, we live in a world where some individuals seek to harm others. The more we educate and protect ourselves about their methods, the better equipped we will be to defend ourselves and address these threats effectively.