Is this bill going to stop (or slow down) scrap-metal thieves?

Missouri's legislature is sending the governor a bill that promises to crack down on scrap-metal thieves. There are quite a few new rules, most of them applying to people who buy scrap metal. For example, they can't buy manhole covers, bleachers or anything that looks like it was funded by taxpayers unless a local government gives written permission. Then there's this:

The legislation, given final approval Wednesday night, requires scrap metal dealers to get a copy of a photo identification for people who are not regular business customers but are selling them more than $50 worth of metals such as copper and aluminum.

Dealers would have to save those records for two years in case law enforcement officers want to inspect them. Dealers who violate the provision could be charged with misdemeanors punishable by up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine, up from the current fine of $25 to $500.

I hope it works. Everybody from churches to farmers have been screwed over by all the copper thefts going on now. I'm just curious how vigorously this is going to be enforced. It's like Missouri's "crackdown" on cold medicine sales / meth makers. Stores keep records of people who buy certain kinds of meds -- but it's all on paper, and none of it gets sent to a central database. It's an absolutely toothless law.

Comments

[Keith G. in P.V.]

The law won't be enforced until some jerk steals the copper from the police department's air conditioning or their power feed from KCP&L.

The value of the copper itself is pretty minimal. Is it enough to constitute a felony charge? The resulting damage (from personal experience last summer) was over 1,000 times the value of the scrap copper.

I understand it's a crime against property, not a person, and a lower priority. It's not going to stop until a scrap yard owner is prosecuted for felony receipt of stolen goods. They are the enablers.

[PTBitte]

This is a minimally invasive law (over $50 value of scrap metal sold). It doesn't create a "big brother" centralized data base. BUT it does create a paper trail that police can investigate IF needed. IF some one is caught stealing (copper, manhole covers, etc.), these records can be used to deny serial thieves a "it was a first offense" defense. Just knowing that they are leaving a paper trail behind will make people think twice befor they steal the metal.

[Keith G. in P.V.]

PTBitte, I agree the law is not excessively invasive. I just question whether it will really change anything.

I can tell you from personal experience that (some) scrap yards don't care unless they themselves get broken into (which seems to be poetic justice.) They'll complain about this law or no law or more restrictive laws until an owner or manager (not minimum wage clerk) goes to jail.

The police don't have time or won't take time to investigate these crimes like you see on CSI. They're not going to put "analysts" out there pouring over scrap yard records. Capitalism beats criminology once more.

[father time]

Was the $50 value a hard number written into the legislation? What happens in 10-20 years. $50 won't be that much. With an inflation rate of 3%, in 20 years $50 is equivalent to $28.

[in2ropin]

Keith your wrong. Copper value is high and going higher as I type. The thieves were just picking on substations and such, but since copper prices are skyrockting they are now just grabbing over head lines stripping them.

I can't wait till I get to see my first fried man or object as it will appear on top of a pole. Really black and crispy!