Alabama new tougher law on the sale of scrap metal written to stop thefts www.privateofficer.com
MONTGOMERY, Alabama June 3 2012 – A new, tougher law on the sale of scrap metal in Alabama has some police departments wondering why it took so long.
The new law requires sellers of scrap metal be photographed, provide a copy of a personal identification card and give information to identify their vehicles. All the information must be submitted to a statewide database and kept for at least one year from the date of the sale.
Sgt. Johnathan Clifton with the Opelika Police Department, said that city has had a similar ordinance in place since May 2007.
“It’s a very big problem,” Clifton said. “Copper is mainly what people steal. They do more damage to the houses than just the theft.”
Clifton said the existing ordinance required buyers of scrap metal to have vehicle information and copies of identification cards on file.
“To be honest, if you didn’t have that information, it would be like a shot in the dark,” Clifton said.
In Montgomery, scrap yards are required to make a copy of a valid ID and enter the information into a system that police monitor. Sgt. Regina Duckett said some of the businesses took pictures, but were not required to do so.
Duckett said the new requirements should definitely help address the multiple cases of metal theft the department sees each week. “We can’t ever get enough information. As long as they are complying with the law, it will definitely help,” Duckett said.
The Dothan Police Department receives about 65 to 75 cases of metal theft per month, and Sgt. Rachel David said the solve rate relies solely on how much information the buyer gets from the seller.
She said local businesses already take down the information required by the new law.
“It is being a responsible buyer that protects them from purchasing stolen items and assists with prosecuting when it happens,” David said. “Without good documentation, these cases are typically hard to close.”
Clifton said thieves are already outsmarting the system. He said the OPD has already seen cases where they melt down the copper, or other metal, and sell it as a lump. He’s also seen where the plastic casings, which typically carry identifying codes, have been cut off. Without identifying markings or code numbers, Clifton said it is much harder to solve the crimes.
The new law also toughens punishments for thieves. Depending on the nature of the crime and whether it is a repeat infraction, violators can face from a Class B misdemeanor, punishable by up to six months in prison and a $3,000 fine, to a Class A felony, punishable by up to 99 years in prison and a $60,000 fine
Source:AL.com
