On Sunday, new legislation was moved forward by Sen. Charles Schumer. This legislation would help deal with the theft of scrap metal. This has been done after over 500 feet of copper was stolen from train tracks in Queens a week ago. Thieves stole the copper cables from at least 12 different places along the A and C train track close to Howard Beach on last Tuesday night.

According to Schumer, the new legislation would stop the sale of metal in illegal way as documentation will be required to prove that it is sold by authorized seller; recyclers will have to keep detailed records and no one will be allowed to give more than $100 cash for the metal.

Schumer said in a statement that this move was required to stop thieves who steal scrap metal from critical mass transit infrastructure.

According to him, “Every ounce of copper or metal stolen from New York's critical infrastructure could cause the next big commuter delay, a subway line suspension or even a disaster. That's why this plan must be enacted-because it takes the cold-hard-cash incentive out of the metal theft equation”. He added that it would discourage thieves before they plan anything like that.

Schumer said that it would also lead to formation of a specific federal crime for stealing metal from critical infrastructure. He added that an increasing number of metal-related thefts have been reported over the past few years, particularly close to rail lines. Schumer is co-sponsor of the legislation; he said that the plan is ‘practical’.