Scrapped, for now
A bill that would require daily electronic reporting of sales of scrap metal has been withdrawn.
The bill was to have a hearing tomorrow before the County Council.
Don Mohler, a spokesman for County Executive Jim Smith, said the administration pulled the bill so that some changes could be made.
“We could have moved forward with amendments, but we think this will make for a cleaner bill,” Mohler said.
The bill would require the 13 or so scrap metal processors in the county to get a license. The processors would also be required to submit a daily report on who is selling metal to them. That report would be sent electronically to police and contain the name, date of birth, driver’s license number and address of the seller.
Scrap metal purchases would have to be held for at least five days. The new licenses grant police the right to come onto the property of scrap metal processors and inspect reported purchases.
Mohler said some scrap metal dealers were concerned that the holding period would cause storage problems because of the large quantities of some metals purchased.
He said part of the changes to the bill will include specifically identifying which metals have to be held for the five day period.
The withdrawn county bill could come back in an amended form and be re-introduced in the county council by mid-October, Mohler said.
Theft of metals — copper and aluminum as an example — have been growing in recent years as gutters are stolen off homes and catalytic converters are stolen from parked cars.
The county bill is similar to one Smith has supported the last two years in Annapolis.
“We’re at this place because we’ve been unable to get statewide legislation,” Mohler said. “We were frustrated at the inability to get this passed at the state level.”
The city is considering a similar measure. The combined bills will make it more difficult for traffickers of stolen scrap metal to sell to legitimate scrap metal dealers.
Mohler said he expects the city and county bills could prod the state to “address this in a comprehensive manner.”