Maryland Lawmakers Address Copper Thefts
posted 6:47 am Wed January 30, 2008 - ANNAPOLIS, Md.
Scrap metal laws have been adopted in more than half the states as skyrocketing copper and other metal prices have led to a surge in thefts. Most of the thefts are nuisances, such as the recent Anne Arundel County theft of copper wire from a football field. But the thefts can be dangerous when charged wire is cut, and dozens of people nationwide have died trying to pilfer copper in the past couple years. The bill under consideration Wednesday in a House committee would require scrap dealers to keep records on people turning in copper scrap. They would also have to take tag numbers and physical descriptions of people selling scrap copper. Junk dealers could be fined $500 for not keeping the records, which police say could help prevent people from breaking into power substations or electrical boxes to steal copper.
--On the Net:
Read State Bill 33: http://mlis.state.md.us/2008RS/bills/hb/hb0033f.pdf
Latest Comment on Maryland Lawmakers Address Copper Thefts
Tuckmeister
9:27 am on 01/30/08
Copper deaths huh? Let them be electocuted if they want to steal wire. Serves them right. If I caught someone stealing metal on my property they'll wish they were electrocuted. Every single scrap yard should be taking and recording ID of every single person who brings in scrap to sell and what they sell to begin with. Of course there is trash out there that will just do what they want.
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