Scrap metal rules expected in coming weeks

Changes to regulations on how scrap metal can be bought and sold are expected in the coming weeks, according to Manitoba’s justice minister.

The Scrap Metal Act, which is aimed at cracking down on stolen car part trafficking, is expected to be proclaimed in "two or three weeks," Justice Minister Kelvin Goertzen said Thursday.

The provincial government first introduced the legislation in December.

"It’s not just a problem in Manitoba, it’s a problem in North America; every state, every province is challenged with this," he said, adding there are other things the provincial government is considering to address the thefts.

There is no magic solution to the problem, he said, but the Scrap Metal Act will ensure people are identified when they bring some items to a scrap metal buyer. It will hopefully dissuade people who steal catalytic converters.

Thefts of the valuable car part are becoming more frequent in Manitoba. As of Wednesday, there had been seven thefts reported in Brandon in 2022 — equal to the number in all of 2021.

In 2020, one was reported stolen, while there were none reported in Brandon in 2019.

Catalytic converter theft is a more significant issue in Winnipeg, where as many as 1,620 thefts were reported in the first 11 months of 2021, according to the Winnipeg Free Press. That’s up from 336 in 2020 and 14 in 2015.

Under the new law, anyone who sells the car part will be required to show ID and provide a description of how they got it.

Scrap metal dealers will be banned from buying the metal without the information, according to the Free Press. Dealers will also be required to write down the seller’s licence plate number for some items.

Scrap metal buyers will also be required to inform police about parts they believe could be stolen.

Courtesy : brandonsun.com