While not totally on topic, there is an interesting report on the CBC about scrap metal dealers buying "hot" metal, and new rules being implemented to (hopefully) help control the problem:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2012/06/25/bc-hot-metal-undercover.html

It will be interesting to see what effect, if any, the new rules have, and if they are worth lobbying for in other jurisdictions.

Steve Hunter

I would favor rules requiring paying by check for anything over $50. Most of these crack heads don't have bank accounts so this makes things harder on them. I would not favor a prohibition against buying burned wire. That will affect legitimate scrappers too much.

Drivers licenses and photo documentation of the loads brought in should be required. One local yard takes a scan of a drivers license and also video records all the transactions.

And I would make it a crime for a scrap dealer to not assist in the investigation of a scrap metal crime, and impose a stiff penalty for selling the stolen metal back to the victim. I had to buy back parts that were stolen from me a couple of times.

I just sold WRM's accumulated copper and brass scrap a couple of months ago.

The scrapper took driver's license info, a digital thumbprint, and photographed me next to the load of scrap.

Their policy is a waiting period (3 days?) for large cash payouts. I asked for a check so I would not have to go back to Oakland to pick up the cash, and they sent the check the next day.