N.J. lawmakers seek to quell rampant metal theft
TRENTON - New Jersey lawmakers on Thursday advanced a bill they said would crack down on the looting of metal from fixtures at churches, schools, and other buildings.
TRENTON - New Jersey lawmakers on Thursday advanced a bill they said would crack down on the looting of metal from fixtures at churches, schools, and other buildings.
Metal thieves in recent years have ravaged cities such as Camden, where in 2012 they stole copper and iron from heating, air-conditioning, and ventilation units in more than one-third of the school buildings.
Replacement can be costly: $750,000 in that case. The problem isn't confined to Camden, says Assemblyman Angel Fuentes, who sponsored the bill with State Sen. Donald Norcross. Both are Camden County Democrats.
Their legislation would require scrap metal businesses to maintain records for at least 18 months of all purchases of such metal.
Under current law, the businesses only need to keep records for purchases of 100 pounds of metal, or $50 worth.
The Assembly Regulated Professions Committee advanced the bill on a 6-3 vote Thursday. Previous versions have failed to gain traction in the Legislature. Camden City Council drafted an ordinance in 2012 that would have regulated scrap metal but dropped it after hearing opposition from scrap-metal dealers.
"It is a huge and prevalent problem," Fuentes said.
The question Thursday was how to address it.
The legislation would require scrap metal businesses to purchase copper, iron, and other metals with checks via mail delivery. Businesses could only use cash if they took and maintained a digital photograph of the seller.
That requirement would cost a scrap business $10,000 in operating expenses, Frank Brill, a lobbyist for the state chapter of the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, told the panel.
"The current law is not being enforced," he said, adding that the proposed regulations would put "a new burden on small businesses."
Scrap-metal businesses already are required to maintain certain records of their transactions, including the seller's name and a description of the metal.
The bill must pass both houses before it would head to Gov. Christie.