| 1/24/2013 |
Majority Leader Ruggerio targets copper theft
STATE HOUSE – The U.S. Department of Energy has called it a $1 billion a year problem, and it is a headache for homeowners, construction companies and law enforcement in Rhode Island as it is across the country.
With prices for various metals high and rising, copper remains an attractive target for thieves, who have been hitting residences left vacant or abandoned as a result of foreclosures, turning copper pipes, gutters, wiring and air-conditioning units into cash. Construction sites and buildings in areas that are difficult to keep secure are also easy prey for copper thieves.
Legislation sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Dominick J. Ruggerio (D-Dist. 4, Providence, North Providence) hopes to take a bite out of copper crimes. While police go after the thieves, the bill proposes to leave thieves with nowhere to dispose of the stolen copper by requiring secondary metals recyclers to obtain a license from the Attorney General’s office in order to purchase certain types of metals.
The “Copper Theft Prevention Act,” (2013-S0079), would require licensing for the purchase of certain types of ferrous and non-ferrous metals, and would create a regulatory scheme for the issues of the license, as well as reporting requirements and procedures for penalizing a licensee for failure to comply with the law.
The bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on Judiciary and is scheduled for a hearing on Tuesday, January 29. The hearing will be held in Room 313 of the State House and will begin at the Rise of the Senate (approximately 4:30 p.m.).
The bill is co-sponsored by Sen. Maryellen Goodwin (D-Dist. 1, Providence), Sen. Frank A. Ciccone III (C-Dist. 7, Providence, North Providence), Sen. Juan M. Pichardo (D-Dist. 2, Providence) and Sen. Paul V. Jabour (D-Dist. 5, Providence).
“Theft is already punishable under the law but to address this specific kind of theft, we must not only go after the thieves but also those businesses that are abetting theft by purchasing the stolen copper materials. Those purchases are, knowingly or not, creating an impetus for more thefts. Licensing and reporting requirements, as provided in this bill, should help because if thieves have no easy place to move their stolen copper goods, they will stop stealing it,” said Majority Leader Ruggerio.
Providence Police Chief Hugh T. Clements Jr. is among those who have offered support for the legislation. “We thank our legislative leaders for sponsoring this bill which moves us in the right direction in curbing copper and metals thefts,” said Chief Clements. “This has become a significant law enforcement problem throughout the country. Many, including metal buyers, may not be aware of the magnitude of the problem. We don’t know the exact percentage, but certainly a portion of what they are buying are properties stolen from homeowners and we need to tighten the laws to protect our citizens.”
Secondary metal recyclers that would be licensed under the legislation would be prevented from entering into any cash transaction in excess of $500 in payment for regulated metals. Transactions over $500 would require recyclers to pay by check, which would record the name and address of the metals seller.
Violators would be guilty of a misdemeanor. If the value of the property involved in the transaction is greater than $500, violators would face a $2,000 fine and/or up to three years in prison. The legislation gives the Attorney General the authority to suspend the license of any person convicted under the legislation.
For more information, contact:
Randall T. Szyba, Publicist
State House Room 20
Providence, RI 02903
(401) 222-2457 |
LEGISLATIVE INFO
