Bill Text: NJ A1551 | 2024-2025 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Increases penalty for motor vehicle theft if, during course of theft, vehicle is operated in manner creating risk of injury or property damage.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 3-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2024-01-09 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Judiciary Committee [A1551 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2024-A1551-Introduced.html

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ASSEMBLY, No. 1551

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

221st LEGISLATURE

 

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2024 SESSION

 

 

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman  VICTORIA A. FLYNN

District 13 (Monmouth)

Assemblyman  GERRY SCHARFENBERGER

District 13 (Monmouth)

 

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblyman S.Kean

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Increases penalty for motor vehicle theft if, during course of theft, vehicle is operated in manner creating risk of injury or property damage.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.

  

An Act concerning motor vehicle theft and supplementing Title 2C of the New Jersey Statutes.

 

     Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

     1.  Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraph (b) of paragraph (2) of subsection b. of N.J.S.2C:20-2, theft of a motor vehicle is a crime of the first degree if, during the course of committing theft of a motor vehicle in violation of subparagraph (b) of paragraph (2) of subsection b. of N.J.S.2C:20-2, the motor vehicle is operated in a manner that creates a risk of injury to any person or  risk of damage to property.

 

     2.  This act shall take effect immediately.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     This bill grades theft of a motor vehicle as a crime of the first degree if, during the course of the offense, the vehicle is operated in a manner that creates a risk of injury to any person or a risk of damage to property.  A first degree crime is punishable by up to 20 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $200,000, or both.

     It is the sponsor's view that in instances where, in the course of committing theft of a motor vehicle, the actor exposes innocent persons to injury, or property to damage, sufficiently high penalties are warranted to deter this extremely violent conduct.