Senate Bill S6872A

                                BILL NUMBER:S6872A

TITLE OF BILL:

An act
to amend the penal law, relating to the crime of criminal possession of
stolen property in the fourth degree where the value of the property
exceeds six hundred dollars and the
stolen property consists
of four or more bicycles

PURPOSE:

To deter bicycle theft by making the possession of four or more stolen
bicycles where the value of the property exceeds six hundred dollars
a crime in the fourth degree.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Amends Section 165.45 of the penal law to include property of four or
more bicycles under criminal possession of stolen property where the
value exceeds six hundred dollars in the fourth degree.

JUSTIFICATION:

The New York City Department of Planning estimates that over 70,000
              

bicycles are stolen in the five boroughs every year, which breaks
down to the theft of approximately 191 bicycles every day. There has
also been anecdotal evidence of increased bicycle theft through out
the state, including cases where bikes have been stolen and
disassembled for parts. Under current law, the only way for
possession of multiple stolen bicycles to be prosecuted with a charge
above a misdemeanor is for the prosecution to prove that the
aggregate value of the bicycles is more than $1000. This bill
includes possession of four or more stolen bicycles as a
qualification for criminal possession of stolen property and lowers
the aggregate value of the bicycles to not exceed six hundred dollars
to be considered in the fourth degree, which is a class E Felony.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

This is a new bill.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

This act shall take effect on the first November next succeeding the
date on which it shall have become law.