Hollister
– The state legislature is considering a bill that supporters
say will help fight an epidemic of scrap metal thefts.
Hollister – The state legislature is considering a bill that supporters say will help fight an epidemic of scrap metal thefts.
Increasing metal prices have made such thefts a local and national problem, said Det. Jeff Goodwin of the San Benito County Sheriff’s Office. Thieves have made off with thousands of dollars worth of copper wiring from farms, construction sites and businesses.
The assembly bill, written by Republican Tom Berryhill of Modesto, would require that recyclers pay for scrap metal with a check, not cash, and wait 10 days before payment. Recyclers would also be required to make a visual recording of the seller or to “tag and hold” the metal for 15 days before releasing it.
Steve Hirsch, director of state and local programs for the national Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, said California recyclers are already required by law to record sellers’ names and personal information.
“My main point about tag-and-hold is that it’s not really very effective,” Hirsch said.
High-volume scrap metal recycling facilities don’t have enough space to store the metal for 15 days, Hirsch said, and the delay can also lead to a loss of revenue due to rapidly fluctuating metal prices. Identification requirements like California’s are a much more effective deterrent, he said.
“In general, our members believe the current law is effective,” Hirsch said.
However, Goodwin said the existing laws aren’t working – after all, theft is rising to record levels. According to the Agricultural Crime Technology Information and Operations Network Project, national metal theft cases went up 100 percent in 2005 and 400 percent in 2006.
“I think (the new legislation) is a great idea, and I hope it goes through,” Goodwin said.
The delays will work as an effective deterrent, Goodwin said, because many of the metal thieves are addicts who want “quick cash” to pay for their drugs.
“If you have to wait … that’s a real disincentive,” he said.
Goodwin said there are only two facilities in San Benito County that can legally accept scrap metal: San Benito Recycling, which processes the bulk of the metal, and Eagle Recycling.
San Benito Recycling owner Celerino Lopez said he isn’t too worried about the proposed restrictions, even though they could lead to increased storage expenses.
“We don’t have that much material here,” Lopez said.
Kathy Kakebeen, an executive assistant with Eagle Recycling, agreed that the restrictions don’t sound particularly troublesome or problematic.
The bill was introduced on Feb. 22, and it was approved by the Assembly’s business and professions committee on Tuesday. Berryhill’s legislative aide Todd Roberson said the bill will be heard by the appropriations committee in May or June. From there, it will go to the full Assembly for a vote, Roberson said, and then to the state Senate.
If approved, Roberson said the new restrictions would take effect on Jan 1, 2008, at the earliest.
Anthony Ha covers local government for the Free Lance. Reach him at 831-637-5566 ext. 330 or
ah*@fr***********.com
.
