Lawmaker's bills to deter metal theft receive Senate approval

RIVERSIDE - An Inland Empire lawmaker's bills to deter copper- related thefts, including the stealing of manhole covers and irrigation pumps, were unanimously approved by the state Senate, it was announced today.

Sen. Bill Emmerson, R-Hemet, said Senate Bills 1045 and 1387 -- both of which he authored -- would require junk dealers to take steps to ensure devices sold as scrap are not stolen, and would impose fines on those dealers who ignore the law.

The legislation must still be vetted by the Assembly.

''Metal theft is still a problem throughout California as the price of metal continues to climb,'' Emmerson said. ''Not only does it cause damage to both public and private property, it can also seriously threaten public health and safety.''

Metal thieves have targeted backflow valves, electrical pull-boxes, air conditioning units, fire hydrants, manhole covers and a variety of outdoor communications equipment throughout Riverside County over the past decade as commodities prices have risen.

Repair bills can soar into the tens of thousands of dollars.

Emmerson noted that some thefts pose a direct threat to public safety, pointing to an incident in Hemet where a teenager plummeted 15 feet into a storm drain, suffering minor injuries, after stepping onto a section of sidewalk where thieves had stolen a manhole cover.

In Menifee, thieves dislodged fire hydrants outside an elementary school, nearly prompting a shutdown of the facility before utility workers could get there to replace the devices.

SB 1387 would prohibit a junk dealer or recycler from accepting manhole covers, hydrants or irrigation pumps unless the individual trying to sell the items presents written certification from the agency or utility that owned them confirming that they're acceptable for recycling.

Any dealer who violates the law would be subject to fines of up to $3,000, according to Emmerson.

SB 1045 would additionally make a scrap dealer responsible for monetary damages stemming from a metal theft, including a utility's or agency's repair and replacement costs, if the dealer knowingly failed to comply with the law.

''While most junk dealers and recyclers operate an honest business, these measures would hold the bad actors that violate the law accountable,'' Emmerson said.