Louisville Metro is cracking down on people stealing copper wire from light poles and utility lines, leaving some parts of Interstate 65 and the Watterson Expressway in the dark.

Metro Council approved an ordinance Thursday night instituting new penalties for people who steal copper wire from public infrastructure. In addition to any other criminal penalties, possessing infrastructure wiring will now be a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $500 or a year in jail. The ordinance also creates a host of new regulations on scrap metal recyclers.

District 19 Council Member Anthony Piagentini, who heads the Republican caucus, said ahead of the vote that the ordinance is a good start in trying to get ahold of this problem.

“This is a scourge on this community what is going on re

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