SB127

By Senator Williams

ENROLLED, An Act,

To amend Section 13A-8-1 of the Code of Alabama 1975, and to add Sections 13A-8-3.1 and 13A-8-3.2 to the Code of Alabama 1975; to define cargo theft and fifth wheel tampering; to provide penalties; and in connection therewith would have as its purpose or effect the requirement of a new or increased expenditure of local funds within the meaning of Amendment 621 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, now appearing as Section 111.05 of the Official Recompilation of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:Section 1. Section 13A-8-1 of the Code of Alabama 1975, is amended to read as follows:

§13A-8-1.

"The following definitions are applicable in this article unless the context otherwise requires:

"(1) DECEPTION occurs when a person knowingly:

"a. Creates or confirms another's impression which is false and which the defendant does not believe to be true; or

"b. Fails to correct a false impression which the defendant previously has created or confirmed; or

"c. Fails to correct a false impression when the defendant is under a duty to do so; or

"d. Prevents another from acquiring information pertinent to the disposition of the property involved; or

"e. Sells or otherwise transfers or encumbers property, failing to disclose a lien, adverse claim, or other legal impediment to the enjoyment of the property when the defendant is under a duty to do so, whether that impediment is or is not valid, or is not a matter of official record; or

"f. Promises performance which the defendant does not intend to perform or knows will not be performed. Failure to perform, standing alone, however, is not proof that the defendant did not intend to perform.

"The term "deception" does not, however, include falsity as to matters having no pecuniary significance, or puffing by statements unlikely to deceive ordinary persons. "Puffing" means an exaggerated commendation of wares or services.

"(2) To "DEPRIVE ..." means:

"a. To withhold property or cause it to be withheld from a person permanently or for such period or under such circumstances that all or a portion of its use or benefit would be lost to him or her; or

"b. To dispose of the property so as to make it unlikely that the owner would recover it; or

"c. To retain the property with intent to restore it to the owner only if the owner purchases or leases it back, or pays a reward or other compensation for its return; or

"d. To sell, give, pledge, or otherwise transfer any interest in the property; or

"e. To subject the property to the claim of a person other than the owner.

"(3) FIFTH WHEEL. Coupling between a trailer and a vehicle used for towing.

"(3)(4) FINANCIAL INSTITUTION. A bank, insurance company, credit union, safety deposit company, savings and loan association, investment trust, or other organization held out to the public as a place of deposit of funds or medium of savings or collective investment.

"(4)(5) FIREARM. A weapon from which a shot is discharged by gunpowder.

"(5)(6) GOVERNMENT. The United States, any state or any county, municipality, or other political unit within territory belonging to the United States, or any department, agency, or subdivision of any of the foregoing, or any corporation or other association carrying out the functions of government, or any corporation or agency formed pursuant to interstate compact or international treaty.

"As used in this definition "state" includes any state, territory, or possession of the United States, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

"(6)(7) OBTAINS. Such term means:

"a. In relation to property, to bring about a transfer or purported transfer of a legally recognized interest in the property, whether to the obtainer or another; or

"b. In relation to labor or service, to secure performance thereof.

"(7)(8) OBTAINS OR EXERTS CONTROL or OBTAINS OR EXERTS UNAUTHORIZED CONTROL over property includes but is not necessarily limited to the taking, carrying away, or the sale, conveyance, or transfer of title to, or interest in, or possession of, property, and includes but is not necessarily limited to conduct heretofore defined or known as common law larceny by trespassory taking, common law larceny by trick, larceny by conversion, embezzlement, extortion, or obtaining property by false pretenses.

"(8)(9) OWNER. A person, other than the defendant, who has possession of or any other interest in the property involved, even though that interest or possession is unlawful, and without whose consent the defendant has no authority to exert control over the property.

"A secured party, as defined in Section 7-9A-102(a)(72), is not an owner in relation to a defendant who is a debtor, as defined in Section 7-9A-102(a)(28), in respect of property in which the secured party has a security interest, as defined in Section 7-1-201(37).

"(9)(10) PROPELLED VEHICLE. Any propelled device in, upon, or by which any person or property is transported on land, water, or in the air, and such term includes motor vehicles, motorcycles, motorboats, aircraft, and any vessel propelled by machinery, whether or not that machinery is the principal source of propulsion.

"(10)(11) PROPERTY. Any money, tangible or intangible personal property, property (whether real or personal) the location of which can be changed (including things growing on, affixed to, or found in land and documents, although the rights represented hereby have no physical location), contract right, chose-in-action, interest in a claim to wealth, credit, or any other article or thing of value of any kind.

"Commodities of a public utility nature, such as gas, electricity, steam, and water, constitute property, but the supplying of such a commodity to premises from an outside source by means of wires, pipes, conduits, or other equipment shall be deemed a rendition of a service rather than a sale or delivery of property.

"(11)(12) RECEIVING. Such term includes, but is not limited to, acquiring possession, control, or title and taking a security interest in the property.

"(12)(13) STOLEN. Obtained by theft, theft by appropriating lost property, robbery, or extortion.

"(13)(14) THREAT. A menace, however communicated, to:

"a. Cause physical harm to the person threatened or to any other person; or

"b. Cause damage to property; or

"c. Subject the person threatened or any other person to physical confinement or restraint; or

"d. Engage in other conduct constituting a crime; or

"e. Accuse any person of a crime or cause criminal charges to be instituted against any person; or

"f. Expose a secret or publicize an asserted fact, whether true or false, tending to subject any person to hatred, contempt, or ridicule; or

"g. Reveal any information sought to be concealed by the person threatened; or

"h. Testify or provide information or withhold testimony or information with respect to another's legal claim or defense; or

"i. Take action as an official against anyone or anything, or withhold official action, or cause such action or withholding; or

"j. Bring about or continue a strike, boycott, or other similar collective action to obtain property which is not demanded or received for the benefit of the group which the actor purports to represent; or

"k. Do any other act which would not in itself substantially benefit the actor but which is calculated to harm substantially another person with respect to his or her health, safety, business, calling, career, financial condition, reputation, or personal relationships.

"(14)(15) VALUE. The market value of the property at the time and place of the criminal act.

"Whether or not they have been issued or delivered, certain written instruments, not including those having a readily ascertainable market value such as some public and corporate bonds and securities shall be evaluated as follows:

"a. The value of an instrument constituting an evidence of debt, such as a check, draft, or promissory note, shall be deemed the amount due or collectible thereon or thereby, that figure ordinarily being the face amount of the indebtedness less any portion thereof which has been satisfied.

"b. The value of any other instrument that creates, releases, discharges, or otherwise affects any valuable legal right, privilege, or obligation shall be deemed the greatest amount of economic loss which the owner of the instrument might reasonably suffer by virtue of the loss of the instrument.

"When the value of property cannot be ascertained pursuant to the standards set forth above, its value shall be deemed to be an amount not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500).

"Amounts involved in thefts committed pursuant to one scheme or course of conduct, whether from the same person or several persons, may be aggregated in determining the grade of the offense; provided, that only one conviction may be had and only one sentence enforced for all thefts included in such aggregate."

Section 2. Sections 13A-8-3.1 and 13A-8-3.2 are added to the Code of Alabama 1975, to read as follows:

§13A-8-3.1.

(a) A person commits the crime of cargo theft if the person knowingly obtains or exerts unauthorized control over either of the following:

(1) A vehicle engaged in commercial transportation of cargo or an appurtenance thereto, including, without limitation, a trailer, semitrailer, container, railcar or other associated equipment, or the cargo being transported therein or thereon, which is the property of another, with the intention of depriving the other person of the property, regardless of the manner in which the property is taken or appropriated.

(2) A trailer, semitrailer, container, railcar or other associated equipment, or the cargo being transported therein or thereon, which is the property of another, with the intention of depriving the other person of the property, regardless of the manner in which the property is taken or appropriated.

(b)(1) Cargo theft that has a collective value in excess of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) is a Class B felony, except the punishment shall be a term of imprisonment of not less than 10 years nor more than 20 years and a fine not to exceed one hundred fifty thousand dollars ($150,000).

(2) Cargo theft that has a collective value exceeding ten thousand dollars ($10,000), but not exceeding fifty thousand dollars ($50,000), is a Class C felony, except the offense shall be punishable by a term of imprisonment of not less than five years nor more than 10 years and a fine not to exceed seventy-five thousand dollars ($75,000).

(3) Cargo theft that has a collective value exceeding five hundred dollars ($500), but does not exceed ten thousand dollars ($10,000), is a Class D felony, except the offense shall be punishable by a term of imprisonment of not less than two years and a fine not to exceed twenty thousand dollars ($20,000).

(4) Cargo theft that has a collective value of five hundred dollars ($500) or less, is a Class A misdemeanor.

(5) A person convicted of cargo theft may also be disqualified from driving a commercial motor vehicle for a period of one year for the first conviction and for life for the second or subsequent conviction, subject to possible reduction as provided in subsection (c) of Section 32-6-49.11.

§13A-8-3.2.

(a) A person commits the crime of fifth wheel tampering if the person, with the intent to commit cargo theft does either of the following:

(1) Modifies, alters, or attempts to alter a fifth wheel or the antitheft locking device attached.

(2) Sells, possesses, offers to sell, moves, or causes to be moved on the highways of this state a modified or altered fifth wheel.

(b) Fifth wheel tampering is a Class C felony.

Section 3. Although this bill would have as its purpose or effect the requirement of a new or increased expenditure of local funds, the bill is excluded from further requirements and application under Amendment 621, now appearing as Section 111.05 of the Official Recompilation of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended, because the bill defines a new crime or amends the definition of an existing crime.

Section 4. This act shall become effective on the first day of the third month following its passage and approval by the Governor, or its otherwise becoming law.

Theft of Cargo

Fifth Wheel Tampering

Crimes and Offenses

Criminal Law and Procedure

Transportation

Trucking

Code Added

Code Amended