On Monday, state and local officials gathered at the 6th Street Bridge in Los Angeles to urge Governor Gavin Newsom to sign a bill to combat copper wire thefts.
State Assemblyman Mark Gonzalez, the author of AB 476, said his bill will help rein in the thefts not only at the bridge but across the state.
“Very simple. handling the transaction. It means it's identifying information about the item, including the weight, the visible etchings, markings, or serial numbers,” he said. “Second thing, it expands the current list of prohibited items like fire hydrants or fire department connections, manhole covers, or back blow devices. It increases the penalties from $3,000 to $5,000 for the knowing purchase or sale of metal and people who possess those who are guilty of that. Lastly, sort of under the same realm, it's knowingly who buys those specified items above, but who we know should have reasonably known that the material belonged to a railroad, utility, or a government entity, from a $1000 fine to $5000.”
Leslie Ridings with DTLARA said downtown L.A. is the “neighborhood hardest hit by illegal tampering and copper wire theft.”
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“In fact, 40% of our street lights are out in downtown,” he said. “No one should be afraid to walk down the streets of their community. No one. Not in downtown nor anywhere else in this great state.”
The bill has been on Newsom’s desk since September 12th. He has until next Monday to sign it.
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