Gov. Rick Snyder has signed into law a bill that provides tools to help police combat metal theft.
The measure includes reforms that also make it more difficult for people to quickly and easily sell stolen metals — especially copper wiring and pipes, catalytic converters, and air conditioners.
A companion bil was signed into law in December.
“We cannot allow metal thieves to damage our homes, farms, utilities, businesses, schools and other public properties,” Snyder said in signing the bill recently. “By damaging traffic signals, street lights and road signs, these criminals endanger Michiganders.”
“We’ve been working with our partners in the Legislature from both sides of the aisle on this critical issue for two years to find a solution that protects residents and law-abiding people in the industry,” the governor added.
Metal theft has become a growing problem, with the number of reported crimes nearly tripling between 2011 and 2012, according to Michigan State Police data.
The state ranked 10th in the nation for scrap metal insurance claims in a recent National Insurance Crime Bureau study.
The legislation includes reforms to make it more difficult for criminals to sell the materials, collecting information from scrap metal sellers at the point of sale to give law enforcement a much-needed paper trail.
The bill also prohibits cash payment for scrap metal, and payment of more than $25 would be required to be mailed to an address listed on a valid form of identification for copper wiring and pipes, catalytic converters and air conditioners, some of the most commonly stolen materials.
The law signed in December made it a felony for a scrap metal dealer to purchase scrap metal or an item of personal property if the dealer knows that it was stolen.
It also would be a felony for a person to sell such metal items to a dealer knowing that the materials were stolen.
Snyder first called for the legislation in a public safety message in early 2012. That plan focused on four cities hardest-hit by crime, but also included measures aimed at protecting Michiganders across the state.
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