H. B. 2060

                        (By Delegate Caputo)

                        [Introduced January 15, 2015; referred to the

                        Committee on the Judiciary.]

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §61-3-13a, relating to making the theft of a traffic sign or traffic signal a misdemeanor; establishing criminal penalties; and requiring restitution.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

            That the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended by adding thereto a new section, designated §61-3-13a, to read as follows:

ARTICLE 3. CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY.

§61-3-13a. Theft of traffic signs; misdemeanor penalties; restitution.

            A person who removes and carries away a traffic sign or a traffic signal, regardless of value, on any street or highway, upon any residential street, in any parking area, upon the ways of any institution of higher education, whether public or private, upon the ways of any state institution, upon the property of any county boards of education, or upon any property within the state Park and Public Recreation System established by the Director of the Division of Natural Resources pursuant to article five, chapter twenty of this code, is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof shall be confined in jail not more than one year, shall be fined not more than $2,500 and shall pay for all replacement costs of the sign or signal.

            NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to make the theft of a traffic sign or traffic signal a misdemeanor. The bill establishes misdemeanor penalties and requires restitution.

            This section is new; therefore, it has been completely underscored.