New Scrap Metal Regs On the Way
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Prince George, B.C. – The Provincial Government will have new regulations in place July 23rd that are aimed at reducing the incidents of metal theft. Thefts have included copper telephone wire, manhole covers and sign posts.
( at right, a security camera at the Red Rock weigh scales caught images of a suspect stealing copper wire from a flatbed truck in the summer of 2011)
Under the new regulations, British Columbians trying to sell metals often targeted by thieves will need to present identification to the scrap purchaser, who will in turn share purchase details daily with police.
As well, purchasers who fail to register with the Province and fulfil record-keeping and sharing requirements under the new law will risk fines of up to $100,000, as well as up to six months’ imprisonment.
The new regulations are the result of extensive consultations with utilities, municipalities and scrap metal dealers in the wake of numerous thefts that have caused tens of thousands of dollars worth of damage to utility and municipal assets across the province.
The July 23 implementation date will allow time to educate metal dealers, recyclers and their customers, and to ensure those who must register have time to do so. An estimated 60 to 70 dealers and recyclers will be affected.
Comments
Ok, there goes the government taking the easy way out. Why not punish the actual person that steels the metal for taking it to the scrap yard.
It is hard not to say that there are a lot of shady characters in the scrap metal business. You would also ask if there are any of these scrap buyers who wish to reduce the theft of such things.
Just picture someone with a stolen shopping cart full of copper items rolling up and selling things like plaques and large industrial wire. There is no one stupid enough to believe that isn’t stolen property and yet cash is paid for it.
Some of these thieves steal large amounts (thousands of pounds) of copper wire and no one asks where they got it. How does an ordinary person end up with such things unless they stole it or bought it from someone who stole it?
The only people who have been treating this theft as a non issue are the law makers, the courts and the police who in typical fashion blame those who own this property for not guarding it themselves.
The solutions are very simple to fix the vast majority of this and we don’t need Sherlock Holmes to figure this out.It is pitiful that the measures were not in place long ago to stop this rampant lawless waste of private and public property theft and destruction.
1-The purchaser and the seller fill out a form that includes the following information:
-purchasers must be registered and document all transactions,
-name with SIN or DL# of sellor
-detailed description list and weight of items bought and sold
-address of the ORIGIN of items sold
-if the sellor cannot prove that they are the original owner of these items then they must show who was and provide the contact information
-must be paid with a cheque to the sellor
-the scrap buyers must report any suspiscious sellors to the police
-government must monitor and investigate both the buyers and the sellors who deal in this scrap business..regularly.
In addition to the above post, the need for justice would be served by providing restitution to those who had their scrap metals stolen and destroyed. The funding for this restitution would come from the fines imposed on both the buyers and sellors who are caught. The penalty would actually be proportional to the theft and destruction involved and spare judges the task of estimating appropriate penalties.
The government should also set up a website for stolen goods that would alert anyone in this business of what to watch for. It usually takes time for thieves to strip wire and prepare it to be sold. This could be a means to alert buyers and police of items which are going to be coming in. A bit of training about these scrap items would go along ways towards identifying them,their typical uses and why people with stolen shopping carts should never end up with these items.
Government is taking the easy way out by targeting all who do not fly under the radar already, instead of the actual criminals. I guess it is too difficult to amend the laws concerning punishment of criminals, so much easier to place the onus on the organizations already registered as legitimate businesses.
Agree with the comments regarding obviously questionable goods being offered for sale, i.e. bronze plaques, and large quantities of copper wire, all the same gauge, hmmm, doesn’nt look like scrap but hey, let’s pretend.
metalman.
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