Cerritos City Council members on Thursday will consider supporting two Assembly bills that impose additional fines to penalties faced by convicted metal thieves and require recyclers and junk dealers keep records of their purchases.
AB 2724, authored by Asssemblyman John Benoit (R-Bermuda Dunes), affects thieves who steal metal the belongs public utilities, farming and industrial facilities, commercial and residential properties, and municipal and state government. It proposes to fine first-time offenders $100 and $200 in subsequent offenses. The fines are transferred in the general fund of the jurisdiction under which the thieves are prosecuted.
Assemblyman Tom Berryhill's (R-Modesto) AB 844 is pushing to make junk dealers and recyclers pay by check instead of cash for products made of aluminum, brass, copper and stainless steel. The seller would have to provide a copy of his drivers license and wait three days before getting their money, and the junk dealer or recycler would be required to photograph the purchased items to keep them in file for two years.
Metal thefts have cost Cerritos. City officials said that the city recently lost $35,000 in aluminum trash cans and bus benches, and $26,000 in copper from copper wiring. The trend is a cause of concern for city leaders who worry that thieves may target the city's bronze and stainless steel public art pieces, whose values range from $25,000 to $200,000 apiece, according to a city staff report.
(Related: The Long Beach Water Deparment in May announced the theft of 50 manhole covers. )
Metal theft has been on the rise as global prices of copper, silver and other metals have soared while supply struggles to meet demand. For example, as primary metals, silver at the moment is selling for $16.50 per ounce; copper for $3.87 per pound; and aluminum for $1.37 per pound as primary metals, according to www.metalprices.com.
The two Assembly bills are two of several pieces of legislation attempting to combat metal thefts.
A senate bill introduced by Sen. Abel Maldonado's (R-Santa Maria), SB 447, would require junk dealers and recyclers to report their daily purchases to law enforcement.
AB 2724, authored by Asssemblyman John Benoit (R-Bermuda Dunes), affects thieves who steal metal the belongs public utilities, farming and industrial facilities, commercial and residential properties, and municipal and state government. It proposes to fine first-time offenders $100 and $200 in subsequent offenses. The fines are transferred in the general fund of the jurisdiction under which the thieves are prosecuted.
Assemblyman Tom Berryhill's (R-Modesto) AB 844 is pushing to make junk dealers and recyclers pay by check instead of cash for products made of aluminum, brass, copper and stainless steel. The seller would have to provide a copy of his drivers license and wait three days before getting their money, and the junk dealer or recycler would be required to photograph the purchased items to keep them in file for two years.
Metal thefts have cost Cerritos. City officials said that the city recently lost $35,000 in aluminum trash cans and bus benches, and $26,000 in copper from copper wiring. The trend is a cause of concern for city leaders who worry that thieves may target the city's bronze and stainless steel public art pieces, whose values range from $25,000 to $200,000 apiece, according to a city staff report.
(Related: The Long Beach Water Deparment in May announced the theft of 50 manhole covers. )
Metal theft has been on the rise as global prices of copper, silver and other metals have soared while supply struggles to meet demand. For example, as primary metals, silver at the moment is selling for $16.50 per ounce; copper for $3.87 per pound; and aluminum for $1.37 per pound as primary metals, according to www.metalprices.com.
The two Assembly bills are two of several pieces of legislation attempting to combat metal thefts.
A senate bill introduced by Sen. Abel Maldonado's (R-Santa Maria), SB 447, would require junk dealers and recyclers to report their daily purchases to law enforcement.
Paul Eakins reports on Long Beach City Hall, and local and regional
politics. A newcomer to the Press-
Kris Hanson reports on the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles,
covering environmental issues, economic triumphs and
pitfalls and trade trends of America’s largest port.
He also writes a weekly column “On The Waterfront”,
appearing Tuesdays, and also produces an occassional video
and column titled “On The Job,” which follows the hard-working
men and women who keep Southern California’s economy humming.
Karen Robes Meeks came to work for the Press-
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