New Oregon Bill May Prevent Metal Theft
by Trey Granger
Published on May 7th, 2009
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The Oregon Senate has unanimously passed a bill that aims to prevent metal theft in the state by requiring that buyers pay by check and keep records of all metal sales. Bill 570 will also prevent the sale of certain metals, except from approved agencies.
Oregon's new bill may help prevent metal theft in the state. Photo: Salem-news.com
Oregon has been working on the legislation for almost three years, with the goal of emulating Washington’s rules against cash sales of scrap metal.
In recent testimony before the Senate, Sen. Ted Ferrioli pointed out the magnitude of the problem. For example, 22 of the 50 plaques celebrating state flags at the Capitol were recently stolen.
However, metal recyclers have mixed emotions about the bill and are unhappy with extra requirements for record-keeping and reporting.
“This is just putting more responsibilities and more criminal sanctions on recyclers and is not going to stop metal thefts,” says Gary Conkling, a lobbyist for the metal recycler Calbag Metals in Portland.
Those items not eligible for sale under the new law include aluminum gutters, guard rails, road signs, traffic light fixtures and graves/monuments. These metals are being designated “commercial metal property.”
It will also cover agricultural metal such as sprinkler heads and irrigation pipe, as Oregon farmers estimate annual losses of $1 million due to metal theft. The bill will go in front of the Oregon House before being put into law. It’s not yet known when this vote will take place.
