New Law Targets Porch Pirates in Tennessee with Tougher Punishments

New Law Targets Porch Pirates in Tennessee with Tougher Punishments

BVBLaw

Over the past year, online shoppers have been experiencing an upswing in the number of missing packages. However, it is not the mail service or the couriers who are to blame it is the so-called 'Porch Pirates'.

Tennessee enacted the 'Porch Pirate Law' on July 1, 2021, to target the rising number of people swiping packages left on porches. The law redefines what is considered mail to include packages delivered out with the USPS system. After a 1st offense under the new law, the crime is a misdemeanor, but a 2nd offense is considered a felony and carries a one-year jail term. There is no distinction based on the value of the items stolen.