March 26, 2008
Legislature strikes a big blow against rampant theft of metals
Today's Topic: Thieves strip away suddenly precious metals
Our View
The General Assembly has struck what should be an effective blow against metal theft in the state by passing a tough new law to crack down on the problem.
The House and Senate overwhelmingly approved the measure that will put some much-needed enforcement tools in place. There will now have to be better records of transactions between dealers and sellers. There will be accountability, and there will be new openness in the process where, for too long, metals were sold that had been stolen and many shady deals could be done in cash.
Copper has been the hottest commodity in the trade. Its price has gone up, and thieves have raided everything they can find to get their hands on it. People are being victimized from a range of rough invasions of their property to slick professionals who know exactly what they're looking for and surgically go after the metal. It doesn't take long to see that sales being conducted between thieves and some dealers need oversight and attention.
Under the new law, people who sell such metal to dealers will have to present an official photo ID, as well as give a thumbprint. Dealers will have to register with the state Department of Commerce and Insurance. Dealers will have to keep records on their transactions for three years, and they may not buy scrap metal from anyone under 18. The legislation was drawn after a study committee looked at the problem last year.
The bill is part of a package promoted by the Tennessee Public Safety Coalition, an organized group of prosecutors and law enforcement officials from across the state. The coalition is being complimentary of the concerted effort of lawmakers and others in passing the bill, but it should be noted that the efforts of the coalition played a big role. The coalition regularly seeks specific crime-fighting initiatives, and it generally backs up its annual wish list with persuasive statistics. Rep. Mike McDonald, D-Portland, and Sen. Jim Kyle, D-Memphis, were key players in the legislative effort, but the measure won wide support. Lawmakers, businesses and law enforcement officials together made the legislation happen.
The new law will allow local government to go even further than the state requirements. Memphis has, in fact, acted to require scrap-metal dealers to hold metals for 10 days so law enforcement authorities can look into the background of the metal. Metal dealers did not like the local element of the state proposal, but the legislature allowed for it.
Metal theft has been breaking out across the state. The new law will not interfere with legal dealings between buyers and sellers of metals.
It will mean they will have to do business in a more documented way, but reputable dealers should welcome the attention to cracking down on unscrupulous dealers.
It is a perpetual problem in society that whenever something is determined to be of significant value, people will steal to capitalize on it. That's why heating and air-conditioning units are being raided. It's why catalytic converters are being stolen. But the state has decided to fight back, and the new law will be a big help. The legislature was right to give the issue the attention it deserved.
SOURCE: Tennessean.com
Bill Would Provide Safeguards For Selling Copper
Posted: March 25, 2008 08:41 AM
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -A bill aimed at stopping copper thefts swept the state House.
House Bill 2433 will put into place many safety measures the folks at PSC Metals in Nashville already enforce.
With the bill people bringing-in scrap metal will be required to present a photo ID, have their picture taken and then be entered even into a data-base.
The new law, which goes into effect Oct. 1, 2008, will force sellers of copper, catalytic convertersand air
conditioner coils to wait five days before being paid by a scrap-yard.
"We get broken into twice a month. So, we're in this. We're in this just as much as the person that has their air conditioner stolen or the tubing cut out of their home. It's just, responsible safeguards," said Jason Avery of PSC Metals, LLC.
Copper's going for an unbelievable $3 a pound, and some speculate copper thefts are up because there are more copper sources to choose from.
SOURCE: NewsChannel5.com
Bill strikes back at metal thieves
Establishes statewide regulatory framework
By Richard Locker
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
NASHVILLE -- The House gave final legislative approval Monday night to a broad measure cracking down on metal theft, in response to what its sponsors called an "epidemic" of copper theft in Tennessee.
The bill resulted from a legislative study committee last year that included a Memphis police lieutenant, scrap metal dealers, the building industry and others hard hit by the crime. It passed the Senate Feb. 6 and now goes to Gov. Phil Bredesen to sign into law.
The bill enacts a statewide regulatory framework and statute but allows local governments to adopt more stringent requirements than the state law, as the Memphis City Council did in December with an ordinance that requires scrap metal dealers and recyclers to "tag and hold" valuable metals like copper for 10 days to give police time to investigate whether it had been sold to dealers by thieves.
Scrap metal dealers fought to amend the bill to pre-empt local governments from enacting tougher ordinances -- and to overturn those that had already been adopted, including Memphis' -- but Rep. Mike McDonald, D-Portland, the bill's House sponsor, said supporters of the crackdown successfully fought off those attempts.
"We've had a copper theft epidemic in Tennessee," he said. "It's a serious problem. I believe with passage of this bill, we'll have one of the toughest laws in the country dealing with the epidemic of metal theft and copper theft."
Sen. Jim Kyle, D-Memphis, the Senate sponsor, said the bill was "a cooperative effort by many industries, groups and organizations affected by copper theft. I'm hoping the people of my district and the rest of the state benefit from the deterrence we've put into effect against copper theft."
The bill passed 91-0 with Reps. Chris Crider, R-Milan, and Frank Nicely, R-Strawberry Plains, abstaining. Five other members were absent.
Key provisions require dealers who buy and sell scrap metal to register with the state Department of Commerce and Insurance by Oct. 1, and sellers must provide a thumbprint and present a state- or federally issued photo identification to dealers.
Dealers cannot buy scrap metal from people under age 18, and they must keep transaction records on site for three years.
The bill prohibits cash payments for certain items, and bans the purchase of metal beer kegs.
Contact Nashville Bureau chief Richard Locker at (615) 255-4923.
SOURCE: commercialappeal.com