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FINALLY Cracking Down on Milk Crate Thieves

I'm glad someone is finally taking a stand against college kids who want to make cheap coffee tables.

Representative Michael F. Kane, a Holyoke Democrat, is pushing for the crackdown on milk-crate thieves, or, translated into legislativese, anyone who "intentionally removes a plastic bulk merchandise container that is used by a product producer, distributor, or retailer or agent thereof which is used as a means for the bulk transportation, storage, or carrying of retail containers of milk . . . with the intention of permanently depriving the merchant of the possession, use, or benefit of such container."

Inspired by complaints from several retailers and dairy suppliers, Kane said, his bill would set a sliding scale of fines for first, second, and third offenses, all the way up to $1,000 and a year in prison for stealing more than $100 worth of crates.

"These crates have been used for many years in college dorms for basically storage and furniture," Kane said. "Obviously, I don't want to see any college students going to jail over this, but it is becoming a cost to the industry." Kane is hoping the measure will come up for a hearing in the Judiciary Committee this winter.

Massachusetts must be a paradise, if this is what the legislature is acting on.

Comments

I hate to tell you, but they have been busting Illegal Aliens at the swap meets for YEARS in our area for having these things...
I was out just last weekend, and this little guy and his ugly wife got hauled off to JAIL for having 2 of these..!!! And the Cop kept saying "Back to mexico for you..!!!" hahaha

Keep up the good work, i say..!!!

Bill...

Posted by: Bill Nigh on 01/09/08 at 10:15 PM Respond

Aren't there already laws on the books regarding theft? Do we really need different laws for theft of different items?

Sounds like nothing more than political pandering.

Posted by: DaveD on 01/10/08 at 5:11 AM Respond

It is about time someone addressed the milk crate problem ,if left unchecked it could upset the total global economy,perhaps if we cut a deal with china , we could get are reserves up to a safe level,I think if Obama were president there would be change. Don`t You ?...steve jones

Posted by: steve jones on 01/10/08 at 6:12 AM Respond

What the hell???

Posted by: hematopoetic on 01/10/08 at 4:27 PM Respond

The biggest problem is that the value of plastic for recycling has jumped to .22 cents per pound and is high enough to encourage thieves to clean out entire loading docks. This article says that $80 million of serviceable milk crates are stolen. http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/07/23/business/crates.php

Posted by: Randdy on 01/10/08 at 7:24 PM Respond

Randy,Oh Randy where did you get those figures at such short notice, my god you are good! Are you a milk man?

Posted by: steve jones on 01/11/08 at 10:25 AM Respond

Those stolen milk crates turn out to be 1.5 million pounds of plastic that needs to be reproduced annually. That is very hazadous to the enviroment. It's not just about the corporations losing money, it's also about creating less polution.

Posted by: chelsea on 01/31/08 at 5:24 PM Respond

Posted by: chelsea on 01/31/08 at 5:33 PM Respond