SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 2284

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  DECEMBER 19, 2022

      The Senate Judiciary Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 2284.

      This bill would make the crime of theft of a motor vehicle a second-degree crime, regardless of the value of the vehicle stolen.

      Under current law, theft of a motor vehicle is generally graded as a crime of the third degree, punishable by a term of imprisonment of three to five years, a fine of up to $15,000, or both.  See N.J.S.2C:20-2, subsection b., paragraph (2), subparagraph (b).  However, if the value of the stolen motor vehicle (and its contents) is $75,000 or more, the act may be graded as a crime of the second degree, punishable by a term of imprisonment of five to 10 years, a fine of up to $150,000, or both.  See Id., subsection b., paragraph (1), subparagraph (a).   

      The bill would add motor vehicles to the list of categories of property for which the theft thereof would constitute a crime of the second degree, and as such every motor vehicle theft could be so graded, regardless of the value of the vehicle stolen.