New Georgia Law Takes Effect July 1 to Deter Cargo Thefts

A new Georgia law is just days away form taking effect that supporters say will help stem the tide of truck cargo thefts.

Effective July 1, offenders who steal cargo from trucks loaded with controlled substances, or pharmaceuticals, valued at less than $10,000 would face fines up to $100,000 and/or up to 10 years in prison, according to Landlinemag.com.

Penalties for those convicted of stealing such cargo valued even more goes as high as 30 years in prison and/or a fine of $1 million, while those convicted of stealing other types of cargo face penalties nearly as severe under the new law, based on the cargo's value.

Pharmaceutical heists are one of the most high dollar types of cargo theft in the U.S., according to the logistics security services provider FreightWatch international, with an average loss of more than $5.6 million from March through May.

Read more about the new law from Landlinemag.com.