Hollister
– Legislation aimed at preventing copper wire and other metal
theft unanimously passed the state Assembly floor Wednesday.
Hollister – Legislation aimed at preventing copper wire and other metal theft unanimously passed the state Assembly floor Wednesday.
The bill, which is sponsored by the California State Sheriff’s Association, would create a mandatory three-day waiting period before recyclers can pay for scrap metal. The law would also require recyclers to ask for, and keep records of, a valid California driver’s license for anyone selling them scrap metal.
San Benito Sheriff Curtis Hill said the bill could go a long way in preventing metal theft.
“Identification and a three-day waiting period – that’s going to cut down on this a lot,” Hill said.
Existing law requires recyclers to record identification, but allows cash payments and no waiting period.
Sen. Jeff Denham, R-Merced, who represents San Benito County, co-authored the bill. Denham welcomed the legislation into the Senate.
“The recycling and the theft of metal has gotten so bad that it’s destroying a lot of equipment and causing a lot of downtime for repairs,” Denham said.
Sheriff’s Lt. Roy Iler said the thefts can often be attributed to drug users looking for some quick cash.
Pacific Gas & Electric reports up to $1 million in theft of copper wire and other metals annually from its sites throughout the state.
This year, several local businesses have reported spools of copper wiring worth up to $5,000 stolen from various construction sites and properties.
After making its way through Assembly committees, the bill has won the support of the scrap metal recycling industry.
Steve Hirsch, director of state and local programs for the national Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, said the Assembly listened to the industry’s concerns and made several key changes.
“The bill passed by the Assembly is a good bill,” Hirsch said.
Hirsch said an older version of the bill would have created a 15-day holding period for all scrap metals before the recycler could process the material.
In a business where prices fluctuate daily, that would have been unfair, Hirsch said.
“Trying to hold that material in separate piles for 15 days is just impractical,” Hirsch said.
There are two recyclers in San Benito County that can legally accept such scrap metal: San Benito Recycling, which processes the bulk of the metal, and Eagle Recycling, according to the sheriff’s office.
The bill will now go through Senate committees and make its way onto the Senate floor.
If approved, the new law could take effect on Jan 1, 2008.
Michael Van Cassell covers public safety for the Free Lance. He can be reached at 831-637-5566 ext. 335 or mv*********@fr***********.com.
