ASSEMBLY, No. 540

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 1996 SESSION

By Assemblywoman CRECCO

An Act upgrading the offense of criminal mischief in certain instances and amending N.J.S.2C:17-3.

    Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

    1. N.J.S.2C:17-3 is amended to read as follows:

    2C:17-3. Criminal mischief a. Offense defined. A person is guilty of criminal mischief if he:

    (1) Purposely or knowingly damages tangible property of another or damages tangible property of another recklessly or negligently in the employment of fire, explosives or other dangerous means listed in section 2C:17-2a; or

    (2) Purposely or recklessly tampers with tangible property of another so as to endanger person or property.

    b. Grading. Criminal mischief is a crime of the third degree if the actor purposely causes pecuniary loss of $2,000.00 or more, or a substantial interruption or impairment of public communication, transportation (including, but not limited to, the defacement, injury or removal of an official traffic sign or signal), supply of water, gas or power, or other public service. [It] Otherwise, it is a crime of the fourth degree[ if the actor causes pecuniary loss in excess of $500.00 but less than $2,000.00, or a disorderly persons offense if he causes pecuniary loss of $500.00 or less].

(cf: P.L.1991, c.336, s.1)

    2. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

    At present, an act of criminal mischief resulting in a pecuniary loss of more than $500 but less than $2,000 is punishable as a crime of the fourth degree. Causing a loss of less than $500 is punishable as a disorderly persons offense. This bill provides that causing any pecuniary loss up to $2,000 is punishable as a fourth degree offense.

Upgrades criminal mischief to crime of the fourth degree.