Columbus, Ohio, passes scrap metal theft ordinance.Columbus, Ohio Columbus is the capital and the largest city of the American state of Ohio. Named for explorer Christopher Columbus, the city was founded in 1812 at the confluence of the Scioto and Olentangy rivers, and assumed the functions of state capital in 1816. , recently passed an ordinance A law, statute, or regulation enacted by a Municipal Corporation. An ordinance is a law passed by a municipal government. A municipality, such as a city, town, village, or borough, is a political subdivision of a state within which a municipal corporation has been that attempts to curb metal theft. The ordinance, 0441-2007, went into effect Aug. 23. City Council member Andrew Ginther says, "I believe this bill protects Columbus residents, provides police the tools they need to fight scrap metal theft and is fair to the recycling industry here in Columbus." The ordinance mandates licensing requirements for scrap metal dealers, improved record keeping and the collection of the sellers' personal information. Scrap dealers scrap dealer n → chatarrero/a scrap dealer n → marchand m de ferraille scrap dealer scrap n → are required to provide such information daily. Those unable to do so are required to hold the material for seven days. The ordinance also calls for limiting scrap metal sellers to one catalytic converter catalytic converter: see internal-combustion engine. catalytic converter In automobiles, a component of emission control systems used to reduce the discharge of noxious gases from the internal-combustion engine. and two consumer appliances without proof of ownership. Under the bill, scrap dealers need a license, which must be renewed yearly at a cost of $600. Scrap dealers with a felony felony (fĕl`ənē), any grave crime, in contrast to a misdemeanor, that is so declared in statute or was so considered in common law. or theft conviction in the past 10 years are prohibited from obtaining a license. The bill also requires scrap metal facilities to hold for 30 days materials identified as stolen and where the rightful owner has been identified. Dealers may scrap the material if the items are unclaimed. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] |
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