S.B. 92 Enrolled

1

METAL THEFT AMENDMENTS
2 2014 GENERAL SESSION
3 STATE OF UTAH
4 Chief Sponsor: Gene Davis
5 House Sponsor: Lynn N. Hemingway
6
7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill modifies the Utah Criminal Code regarding the theft of metal.
10 Highlighted Provisions:
11 This bill:
12 . provides that the records and identification requirements regarding transactions in
13 regulated metal apply also to persons who refine or melt regulated metals;
14 . provides a definition of a metals refiner; and
15 . requires that the identification provided for transactions in regulated metals be a
16 form of identification provided by a state or the federal government.
17 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
18 None
19 Other Special Clauses:
20 None
21 Utah Code Sections Affected:
22 AMENDS:
23 76-6-1402 , as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2013, Chapter 187
24 76-6-1403 , as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2013, Chapter 187
25
26 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
27 Section 1. Section 76-6-1402 is amended to read:
28 76-6-1402. Definitions.
29 As used in this part:

30 (1) "Catalytic converter" means a motor vehicle exhaust system component that
31 reduces vehicle emissions by breaking down harmful exhaust emissions.
32 (2) "Dealer" means [any]:
33 (a) a scrap metal processor or secondary metals dealer or recycler, but does not include
34 junk dealers or solid waste management facilities as defined in Section 19-6-502 [.]; or
35 (b) a metals refiner.
36 (3) "Ferrous metal" means a metal that contains significant quantities of iron or steel.
37 (4) "Identification" means a form of positive identification issued by a state of the
38 United States or the United States federal government that:
39 (a) contains a numerical identifier and a photograph of the person identified;
40 (b) provides the date of birth of the person identified; and
41 (c) includes a state identification card, a state driver license, a United States military
42 identification card, or a United States passport.
43 (5) "Junk dealer" means all persons, firms, or corporations engaged in the business of
44 purchasing or selling secondhand or castoff material, including ropes, cordage, bottles,
45 bagging, rags, rubber, paper, and other like materials, but not including regulated metal.
46 (6) "Local law enforcement agency" means the law enforcement agency that has
47 jurisdiction over the area where the dealer's business is located.
48 (7) "Metals refiner" means an individual or business that refines or melts any regulated
49 metal, but does not include an individual or business that primarily uses ore, concentrate, or
50 other primary materials in refining, melting, or producing any regulated metal.
51 [(7)] (8) "Nonferrous metal":
52 (a) means a metal that does not contain significant quantities of iron or steel; and
53 (b) includes copper, brass, aluminum, bronze, lead, zinc, nickel, and their alloys.
54 [(8)] (9) (a) "Regulated metal" means any item composed primarily of nonferrous
55 metal, except as provided in Subsection [(8)] (9)(c).
56 (b) "Regulated metal" includes:
57 (i) aluminum, brass, copper, lead, chromium, tin, nickel, or alloys of these metals,

58 except under Subsection [(8)] (9)(c);
59 (ii) property owned by, and also identified by marking or other means as the property
60 of:
61 (A) a telephone, cable, electric, water, or other utility; or
62 (B) a railroad company;
63 (iii) unused and undamaged building construction materials made of metal or alloy,
64 including:
65 (A) copper pipe, tubing, or wiring; and
66 (B) aluminum wire, siding, downspouts, or gutters;
67 (iv) oil well rigs, including any part of the rig;
68 (v) nonferrous materials, stainless steel, and nickel; and
69 (vi) irrigation pipe.
70 (c) "Regulated metal" does not include:
71 (i) ferrous metal, except as provided in Subsection [(8)] (9)(b)(ii) or (iv);
72 (ii) household-generated recyclable materials;
73 (iii) items composed wholly of light iron or sheet steel;
74 (iv) aluminum beverage containers; or
75 (v) containers used solely for containing food.
76 [(9)] (10) "Secondary metals dealer or recycler" means any person who:
77 (a) is engaged in the business of purchasing, collecting, or soliciting regulated metal; or
78 (b) operates or maintains a facility where regulated metal is purchased or kept for
79 shipment, sale, transfer, or salvage.
80 [(10)] (11) "Scrap metal processor" means any person:
81 (a) who, from a fixed location, utilizes machinery and equipment for processing and
82 manufacturing iron, steel, or nonferrous scrap into prepared grades; and
83 (b) whose principal product is scrap iron, scrap steel, or nonferrous metallic scrap, not
84 including precious metals, for sale for remelting purposes.
85 [(11)] (12) "Suspect metal items" are the following items made of regulated metal:

86 (a) manhole covers and sewer grates;
87 (b) gas meters and water meters;
88 (c) traffic signs, street signs, aluminum street light poles, communications transmission
89 towers, and guard rails;
90 (d) grave site monument vases and monument plaques;
91 (e) any monument plaque;
92 (f) brass or bronze bar stock and bar ends;
93 (g) ingots;
94 (h) nickel and nickel alloys containing greater than 50% nickel;
95 (i) #1 and #2 copper as defined by the most recent institute of Scrap Recycling
96 Industries, Inc., Scrap Specifications Circular;
97 (j) unused and undamaged building materials, including:
98 (i) greenline copper;
99 (ii) copper pipe, tubing, or wiring; and
100 (iii) aluminum wire, siding, downspouts, or gutters;
101 (k) catalytic converters; and
102 (l) wire that has been burned or that has the appearance of having been burned.
103 Section 2. Section 76-6-1403 is amended to read:
104 76-6-1403. Records of sales and purchases -- Identification required.
105 (1) Every dealer shall:
106 (a) require the information under Subsection (2) for each transaction of regulated
107 metal, except under Subsection 76-6-1406 (4); and
108 (b) maintain for each purchase of regulated metal the information required by this part
109 in a written or electronic log, in the English language.
110 (2) The dealer shall require the following information of the seller and shall record the
111 information as required under Subsection (1) for each purchase of regulated metal:
112 (a) a complete description of the regulated metal, including weight and metallic
113 description, in accordance with scrap metal recycling industry standards;

114 (b) the full name and residence of each person selling the regulated metal;
115 (c) the vehicle type and license plate number, if applicable, of the vehicle transporting
116 the regulated metal to the dealer;
117 (d) the price per pound and the amount paid for each type of regulated metal purchased
118 by the dealer;
119 (e) the date, time, and place of the purchase;
120 (f) the type and the identifying number of the identification provided in Subsection
121 (2)(g);
122 (g) [at least one] a form of identification that is a valid United States federal or
123 state-issued photo ID, which includes a driver license, a United States passport, a United States
124 passport card, or a United States military identification card;
125 (h) the seller's signature on a certificate stating that he has the legal right to sell the
126 scrap metal or junk; and
127 (i) a digital photograph or still video of the seller, taken at the time of the sale, or a
128 clearly legible photocopy of the seller's identification.
129 (3) No entry in the log may be erased, deleted, mutilated, or changed.
130 (4) The log and entries shall be open to inspection by the following officials having
131 jurisdiction over the area in which the dealer does business during regular business hours:
132 (a) the county sheriff or deputies;
133 (b) any law enforcement agency; and
134 (c) any constable or other state, municipal, or county official in the county in which the
135 dealer does business.
136 (5) A dealer shall make these records available for inspection by any law enforcement
137 agency, upon request, at the dealer's place of business during the dealer's regular business
138 hours.
139 (6) Log entries made under this section shall be maintained for not less than three years
140 from date of entry.
141 (7) (a) The dealer may maintain the information required by Subsection (2) for repeat

142 sellers who use the same vehicle to bring regulated metal for each transaction in a relational
143 database that allows the dealer to enter an initial record of the seller's information and then
144 relate subsequent transaction records to that initial information, except under Subsection (7)(b).
145 (b) The dealer shall obtain regarding each transaction with repeat sellers:
146 (i) a photograph of the seller; and
147 (ii) a signature from the seller.