97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2011 and 2012
HB4448
 
Introduced 1/30/2012, by Rep. David Reis
 
SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 


720 ILCS 5/16-1.4 new
    Amends the Criminal Code of 1961. Creates the offense of copper theft. Provides that a person commits copper theft when, without the consent of the owner, he or she knowingly obtains or exerts control over property of the owner consisting of  any copper or copper alloy that is manufactured, sold,  or used for certain specified purposes.  Provides incremental increases in the penalty for copper theft from a Class 4 felony to a Class 1 felony based on the value of the property stolen or whether the offense was committed in a school or place of worship, or if the theft was of government property.



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CORRECTIONAL BUDGET AND IMPACT NOTE ACT MAY APPLY
 
 
A BILL FOR
 


HB4448LRB097 15670 MRW 61936 b



1    AN ACT concerning criminal law.

 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
 
3represented in the General Assembly:


 
4    Section 5. The Criminal Code of 1961 is amended  by adding 
5Section 16-1.4 as follows:
 
6    (720 ILCS 5/16-1.4 new)
7    Sec. 16-1.4. Copper theft.
8    (a)  A person commits copper theft when, without the consent 
9of the owner, he or she knowingly obtains or exerts control 
10over property of the owner:
11        (1) consisting of any copper or copper alloy; and
12        (2)  which is manufactured, sold,  or used as:
13            (A) a telegraph, telephone, cable

14        telecommunications, electric power transmission 
15        pedestal, underground residential distribution device, 
16        or
pole;
17            (B) a telephone, cable telecommunications, or 
18        electric
power line;
19            (C)  a wire or fiber insulator, power supply, 
20        transformer,
grounding system, transmission or other 
21        apparatus, equipment or fixture used in
the 
22        transmission of telegraph, telephone, cable





  
23        telecommunications, or electrical power service;
 
 
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1            (D)  equipment related to wireless communications 
2        regulated by the
Federal Communications Commission;
3            (E)  a fixture, including a gutter, downspout, 
4        plumbing pipe or fixture; or
5            (F) an irrigation unit including a cable, pump, or 
6        power supply.
7    (b)  Sentence. 
8        (1)  Copper theft not exceeding
     $500 in value is a Class 
9    4 felony.
10        (2)  Copper theft not exceeding
     $500 in value if the 
11    theft was committed in a school or place of worship or if 
12    the theft was of governmental property is a Class 3 felony.
13        (3)  Copper  theft exceeding $500 and not exceeding 
14    $10,000 in value, is a Class 2 felony.
15        (4)  Copper  theft exceeding $500 in value if the theft 
16    was committed in a school or place of worship or if the 
17    theft was of governmental property is a Class 1 felony. 
18        (5)   Copper  theft exceeding $10,000 in value is a Class 
19    1 felony.