Upgrades crime of theft of scrap metal from transportation system.

This bill amends New Jersey law to specifically address theft of scrap metal from transportation systems. It upgrades theft of scrap metal from transportation systems that causes serious bodily injury to others to a second-degree crime (with penalties of 5-10 years in prison), while making all other thefts of scrap metal from transportation systems under $75,000 a third-degree crime (with penalties of 3-5 years in prison). The bill also removes the presumption of nonimprisonment for first-time offenders of this specific offense. This affects individuals who steal scrap metal from infrastructure including public highways, transit systems, and other transportation projects. The bill changes the grading of these thefts from what appears to be a lower offense under current law to more serious criminal charges.