The provincial government has announced new regulations to curb the theft of copper wires and other high-value metals.
The regulations are in response to a significant number of metal thefts from businesses, municipalities and utilities that have resulted in tens of thousands of dollars in losses and damages.
Items targeted include tools, heavy machinery, copper telephone wire and signposts.
“Our approach will ensure metal thieves don’t profit from their crimes, while minimizing the cost and administrative bur-den for the law-abiding workers in our scrap and recycling sector,” Justice Minister and Attorney General Shirley Bond said in a press release when the bill was first introduced in 2011.
The laws are aimed at reducing theft of metals by limiting their resale potential. As of July 23, anyone trying to sell high-value metals to scrap metal dealers will be required to show identification.
The dealers must then share all details with police daily or face fines of up to $100,000 and six months in jail. Commercial transactions will be exempted from the reporting requirements.
Under the new regulations, dealers will not be permitted to buy scrap metal from anyone who does not provide the required identification. Sellers’ information will be provided only to police with a court order.
Cash transactions will be limited to $50, and the law will also create a scrap metal dealer registry. Currently, approximately 10 municipalities in the Lower Mainland have metal theft bylaws, but because of inconsistencies they haven’t been effective deterrents. The new laws are intended to provide consistency provincewide.
In addition to being costly, metal theft can have many unforeseen consequences. For example, theft of copper wire in December 2010 led to 500 Maple Ridge residences losing 911 emergency service.
“Deterring metal thieves really is a matter of public safety,” Bond said in a press release May 9. “Metal thieves interfere with telephone service and emergency communications and often leave live wires in their wake.”
But not everyone believes the new laws will make a difference.
“I’ve worked with the province planning and, to tell you the truth, there’s no change whatsoever,” said a representative from Davis Trading & Supply, a metal recycler in Vancouver. “Almost all of the businesses across the province are already in compliance with this regulation, so there are really no changes.”
The proposed legislation was first introduced during B.C.’s crime prevention week in November. •
