BC Gov News

New regulations will soon come into effect to help reduce thefts of copper wire and other high-value metals, announced Shirley Bond, Minister of Justice and Attorney General.

The regulations follow the B.C. government's approval of Canada's first provincial metal theft law in November 2011.

Under the new regulations that will come into effect July 23, British Columbians trying to sell metals often targeted by thieves will need to present identification to the scrap purchaser, who will in turn share purchase details daily with police.

As well, purchasers who fail to register with the Province and fulfil record-keeping and sharing requirements under the new law will risk fines of up to $100,000, as well as up to six months' imprisonment.

The new regulations are the result of extensive consultations with utilities, municipalities and scrap metal dealers. They are designed to respond to the significant number of thefts that continue to incur tens of thousands of dollars worth of damage to utility and municipal assets across B.C., including copper telephone wire, manhole covers and sign posts. The Province has also worked with municipalities to ensure the law and regulations complement existing bylaws in a dozen B.C. communities.

The July 23 implementation date will allow time to educate metal dealers, recyclers and their customers, and to ensure those who must register have time to do so. An estimated 60 to 70 dealers and recyclers will be affected.

The law aims to greatly limit the resale market for stolen assets, through a strong regulatory regime backed by significant fines for non-compliance, and to ensure metal thieves are identified and prosecuted, through mandatory, strategic collaboration between regulated metal dealers and police.

The Province has also worked with the recycling industry to minimize associated regulatory costs and protect the personal information of those who sell metal to scrap dealers.

Quotes:

Justice Minister and Attorney General Shirley Bond -

"Effectively deterring metal thieves really is a matter of public safety. Metal thieves interfere with telephone service and emergency communications, and often leave live wires in their wake, posing the threat of electrocution to maintenance and repair workers and other innocent people."

"We've taken time to ensure our law will work - as a deterrent, as something that doesn't impose unnecessary cost or regulatory burden on the recycling sector, and as a complement to existing bylaws that have proven effective at the local level in many communities."

Ken Haertling, vice-president and chief security officer, TELUS -

"When thieves cut live TELUS cables, they are cutting access to 911, putting lives at risk. They also cost our business customers, who rely on our connection for their credit card and Interac machines and force TELUS to send crews out to repair lines, often in the middle of the night in dangerous conditions."

"This happened 380 times last year, and we're seeing a similar pace so far this year."

"The regulations introduced today will be an important tool in the fight against this crime, making it harder for thieves to sell stolen material without imposing an undue burden on the majority of scrap metal dealers who are honest business people offering an important service."

Staff Sgt. Aaron Paradis, Surrey RCMP -

"We support any legislation that works to deter crime, and assists us in identifying and following up with those who continue to break the law."

Quick Facts:

• Metal theft frequently causes widespread phone service disruption, endangering public safety. Last December, more than 500 Maple Ridge residents lost 911 emergency service after thieves stole copper telephone wire.
• TELUS has estimated each of the 200 metal theft incidents it dealt with in the Lower Mainland last year cost $50,000 on average to repair.
• About a dozen Lower Mainland municipalities have metal theft bylaws complementary to the new provincial legislation.

Learn More:

View the news release from the act's introduction in November 2011:

http://www.newsroom.gov.bc.ca/2011/11/metal-theft-law-to-protect-public-safety-infrastructure.html

Contact:

Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Justice
250 356-6961

BACKGROUNDER

B.C. metal theft regulations

The new regulations:

• Define the types of metal the law covers.
• Set out the information dealers and recyclers must collect about the person selling regulated metal with a description of the regulated metal.
• Require dealers to send a daily report, detailing the regulated metal they have purchased, to police, who will compare these records with reports of stolen metal.
• Require dealers to share these details daily with their local police and keep them for at least a year. Dealers must also record each seller's full name, current address, telephone number and date of birth, as well as vehicle or pick-up address details.
• Ensure dealers assign a unique code to each customer who sells them metal, to protect customers' privacy rights. The code will accompany purchase information police receive. Dealers will only release a seller's personal information if police present a court order for that information.
• Prohibit dealers from buying regulated scrap metal from any seller unable or unwilling to provide required information.
• Create a dealer registry and appoint inspectors to ensure compliance and enforcement.
• Curb walk-in traffic by individuals who want quick cash, whom police have identified as a source of metal theft. To close this market for stolen metal, the regulation limits cash transactions of regulated metals to $50.
• Exempt commercial transactions from the recording and reporting requirements.
• Authorize police and ministry inspectors to issue violation tickets. Dealers and recyclers covered by the law will not pay a fee to register - but those who fail to do so or fulfil their duties under the law will risk tickets of $100 to $500 for minor infractions. Continuing non-compliance may result in administrative penalties or fines of up to $10,000 for an individual or $100,000 for a company, plus up to six months' jail time, upon conviction.

Contact:

Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Justice
250 356-6961