SEATTLE -- If you have not been the victim of ID theft -- consider yourself lucky. Having your identity stolen can make life miserable for years.

Washington State now has a new law on the books that should help make it easier for anyone victimized by an identity thief to put their lives back together again.

Law enforcement agencies are required to let ID theft victims file a police incident report and give them a copy of the report.

"This will make it easier for consumers who believe they are victims or who are in fact victims, to get the process and get the ball rolling," said Adam Levin, founder of the Web site IdentityTheft 911 (identitytheft911.org)

"The problem with creditors, credit reporting agencies and even government agencies, if you have an identity theft issue, in the absence of a police report that's a non-starter. No one is going to believe you. No one is going to help you," he said.

Nothing in the law requires the police to take any action to pursue the case. But just having that police report, will be helpful.

More Information:

New Laws in Washington State