Ohio City Considers License for Scrap Dealers

"House-stripping" already is against the law. The proposed ordinance is aimed at preventing scrap metal dealers from buying stolen items.

The mayor announced the proposed new law yesterday in front of 17 Banks St., in the city's south end, where a man was caught last week removing aluminum siding from his neighbor's house.

Finkbeiner said there have been 65 scrap metal thefts so far this year.

Police Chief Jack Smith said the large number of reports of stolen materials is driven by the high price of scrap metal. "A lot of people are trying to make an easy couple of dollars."

The proposed legislation puts new burdens on scrap metal buyers by requiring that they:

œ Get more detailed identification than currently is required from people trying to sell scrap metal.

œEnsure that anyone attempting to sell scrap aluminum siding, lead pipe, copper pipe, or structural steel has a demolition permit from the city. A residential demolition permit costs between $150 to $400, according to the city's Commissioner of Building Inspection Hussein Abounaaj.

Also, it requires that anyone who sells scrap metal more than five times in a year get a peddler's license from the city.

The house-stripping legislation was introduced at yesterday's agenda review session of Toledo City Council, and is expected to be the subject of a hearing before council votes on it. The Toledo Blade