How often does this happen: You're about to sit down to dinner when the phone rings.

A recorded voice shouts, "Congratulations! You've just won a new ..."

You slam down the receiver (or, more likely, angrily press the disconnect button), but the intrusive message continues for several minutes, tying up your phone even if you had to make an emergency call.

Thanks to a new state law that went into effect last week, any so-called "robo-caller" who does not immediately disconnect after a customer has hung up faces a $1,000 fine - double the old penalty.

We would have liked to see the new fine shoot up to $10,000, or better yet, authorized the immediate disabling of any phone used for such intrusiveness.

The robocall law was one of 23 new Connecticut statues that became effective Oct. 1 - others restrict the sale or use of e-cigarettes by those under 16; impose stiffer regulations on so-called "puppy mills"; require better safety checks by ski-lift operators; and specifically criminalize the hitting by motorists of pedestrians and bicyclists - but not surprisingly, the phone law is the one drawing the most attention.

According to Consumer Reports, through the first 11 months of 2013 Americans had filed 1.8 million complaints about robocalls with the Federal Communications Commission, and even the more than 200 million phones registered on do-not-call lists were not immune.

Government enforcers can only investigate so many complaints, so an enormous backlog allows annoying calls to persist virtually unchecked.What's more, there are loopholes big enough to steer a cruise ship through.

First and foremost, political telemarketers are exempt. Talk about the worst offenders, particularly now, during election season.

Registering on the do-not-call list also does not protect people from companies with whom they've done businesses unless they specifically request not to be phoned again. Bill collectors also can ignore the list.

In addition, not-for-profit organizations don't have to adhere to restrictions, nor do those conducting surveys.

This is why so many calls begin, "We're conducting a poll..."

Oh, really? For whom?

"Uhhh, I'm not allowed to say."

Click.

To be fair many worthwhile charities rely on phone solicitations, but we would prefer they raise money in virtually any other way - even ice bucket challenges.

Consumers Union, the policy and advocacy arm of Consumer Reports, suggest these strategies for dealing with telemarketers:

• If you pick up a robocall, hang up immediately. Pressing a number signals that the autodialer has reached a live number and can lead to more calls.

• Limit at least some unwanted calls by listing all of your numbers in the Do Not Call registry. Go to donotcall.gov or call 888-382-1222 from the number you want to register.

• If you have caller ID, record robocallers' numbers and report them to the FTC via the Do Not Call registry.

These suggestions are all well and good, but we always liked the tactic employed by comedian Jerry Seinfeld on his old sitcom.

When he answers the phone in one episode and discovers the caller is a telemarketer, he says, "Oh, gee, I can't talk right now. Why don't you give me your home number and I'll call you later?"

The telemarketer replies, "Uhh, I'm sorry, we're not allowed to do that."

Mr. Seinfeld then says, "Oh, I guess you don't want people calling you at home."

"No."

"Well, now you know how I feel." Then he hangs up.