Lawmakers Call On Newsom To Approve Crackdown On Copper Wire Theft

LOS ANGELES, CA — As Southern California continues to grapple with widespread copper wire thefts that have left neighborhoods in the dark, elected officials Monday urged Gov. Gavin Newsom to sign new legislation aimed at cracking down on the crimes.

Assemblyman Mark González, D-Los Angeles, led a news conference in downtown Los Angeles with L.A. County and city leaders to encourage Newsom to sign AB 476, which they said would strengthen enforcement tools and help protect critical infrastructure from copper wire theft.

In the L.A. area, more than 38,000 feet — or about seven miles — of copper wire have been stolen from the Sixth Street Bridge, resulting in $2.5 million in taxpayer-funded repairs.

The city's Bureau of Street Lighting has also reported nearly 46,000 service requests for outages in 2024, with 40% attributed to wire theft.

Newsom has until Oct. 12 to sign or veto the bill, according to González's office.

"Copper theft is not a victimless crime. It's costing cities millions, endangering residents, and overwhelming local resources," González said in a statement. "AB 476 gives law enforcement and cities additional tools to track illegal transactions, stop thieves and hold bad actors accountable."

The bill would expand reporting requirements for junk dealers and recyclers, requiring them to collect detailed transaction records and verify the seller's identity and lawful ownership of metals brought to their businesses.

It would also make it illegal for individuals to possess certain scrap metal — including parts from streetlights, traffic signals and plaques — without proper documentation. Penalties would be increased to reflect the high costs of damage and replacement.

County District Attorney Nathan Hochman and county Sheriff Robert Luna joined González at the event, calling the bill a "game changer" for public safety.

"This bill will finally give law enforcement the tools to shut down illegal scrap metal operations that fuel this kind of crime," Hochman said in a statement. "Legitimate junk and recycling centers stand behind AB 476 because they're tired being undercut by rouge operators who buy stolen metal with no questions asked."

Luna said that individuals who steal metal for profit endanger public safety and drive up costs for everyone.

"Assembly Bill 476 will be an important tool to help law enforcement increase accountability and protect our communities," Luna said in a statement. "We're asking residents to stay alert, report suspicious activity and stand with law enforcement in putting a stop to these thefts."

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto and City Councilwoman Ysabel Jurado, who represents downtown neighborhoods, also voiced support for the measure.

"AB 476 will help law enforcement hold these criminals accountable while improving quality of life for Angelenos," Bass said in a statement. "I thank Assemblymember González for his work to move this bill forward and urge Governor Newsom to sign it."

City News Service