Legistlators in Florida have passed a metal-theft bill that would enhance criminal penalities against metal-theives and corrupt recyclers, according to an article from the Orlando Sentinel.
After the death of South Florida woman Thelma Morrow in September, lawmakers have been pressing for higher penalties on metal theft to help improve public safety, the article says. Morrow was killed when she was hit by a car on a dark street where copper theives had stripped the wires from Miami streetlights. The driver who hit her told police that the darkness made the crash difficult to avoid, the article says.