Nebraska City Passes Scrap Metal Ordinance

The Lincoln, Neb., City Council has passed an ordinance that targets scrap metal dealers. The new ordinance, o6-137S, would require scrap dealers in the city to keep records and fingerprints of anyone selling them "high value" metal for scrapping purposes. Additionally, the new law would require a 72-hour hold on selling the scrap metal collected from any person or company that did not have a permit by the city of Lincoln.

The new law will go into effect starting this December.

The ordinance, first introduced this past August, would establish provisions regulating operations dealing with the high value materials, which the council defined as copper, brass, bronze or aluminum, exempting aluminum beverage cans.

The ordinance would increase the yearly fees required for scrap dealers, and adds a new section that would require fingerprints and a three-day hold on the material; prohibit anyone convicted of a theft offense within the last five years fro dealing in high value salvage materials; and amending the ordinance to establish a minimum fine of $150 for violating the chapter.

A significant part of the ordinance also dwells on scrap metal collectors obtaining permits to conduct business. These permitted facilities also would maintain their premises for inspection during regular business hours by a number of city and/or county agencies.