Representative Kip Capley is pushing for tougher penalties for specific burglaries, aiming to elevate them from a Class E felony to a Class D felony. The proposed House Bill 1978 targets thefts from various modes of transportation such as freight or passenger railroad cars, automobiles, trailers, boats, and airplanes. In 2022, there were over 31,731 reported thefts from motor vehicles, marking an increase of more than 2,000 compared to the previous year, as per the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. The bill is set to be discussed in the Criminal Justice Subcommittee on February 27. Kip Capley, who represents House District 71 encompassing Wayne County and parts of Hardin, Lawrence, and Maury Counties, is the driving force behind this legislative effort.
Legislator Proposes Tougher Penalties for Specific Burglaries
