Recently amended, AB 316 (Carter) now provides that the definition of grand theft shall include the theft of copper materials exceeding a value of $250.

An earlier version would have allowed law enforcement to stop and inspect vehicles that are transporting metal products or metal alloy products to determine whether the driver is in legal possession of the load, and, upon reasonable belief that the driver of the vehicle is not in legal possession, to take custody of the vehicle and load.  A similar bill was introduced as AB 237 in the prior legislative session, but was not passed by the legislature.

http://leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/postquery?bill_number=ab_316&sess=1112&house=B&author=carter