Scrap Metal Laws By State

Florida Scrap Metal Laws



Payment Restrictions:

Florida has special payment restrictions, see the legal mandates below. Nexus handles ALL payment restrictions automatically. For instance, if a material can only be paid by check, Nexus will disable CASH & ATM buttons and only allow the operator to generate a check, which Nexus generates and prints for you.


Fingerprinting:

Florida requires fingerprints, but may vary by county. Nexus does this automatically for you and keeps fingerprints on file for each customer/driver forever!


Video Recording:

Florida requires facilities to record video using security cameras. Nexus tracks time, dates and weights for each material -- making locating a video for law enforcement extremely easy!


Tag and Hold:

Florida requires yards to tag-and-hold certain materials for a period of time to give law enforcement time to locate possibly stolen material matching that description. Once tag-and-hold expires, the material can be recycled. Nexus handles all of this scheduling for you -- 100% automated with no manual input required.


License Scanning:

Florida requires each customers drivers license, ID card, consulate ID or passport to be scanned and kept on file. Nexus automates this process by taking a picture of the license, scanning all the data, letting you know when it expires and keeping it on file forever!


Vehicle Descriptions:

Florida requires every purchase of scrap metal to also have the customer or drivers vehicle information recorded as part of the transaction. Nexus keeps track of every vehicle for you, as well as the number of occupants!


Taking Photographs of Materials:

Florida requires that each material/purchase have a snapshot image to be taken while the material is being weighed. Nexus does this automatically, unlike other systems, your employees won't have to click any buttons or do anything manually to capture images.


Taking Photographs of Customers Faces:

Florida requires a photograph to be taken of the customers face at the time of payout. Nexus does this automatically, unlike other systems, your employees won't have to click any buttons or do anything manually to capture images.


Notify Law Enforcement:

Florida requires law enforcement notifications when certain materials are purchased. Nexus alerts you when you need to report a material and generates a tag for Tag-And-Hold.


NMVTIS Reporting:

ALL STATES, not just Florida are required to report vehicle purchases to NMVTIS through services like Add123.com or Nexus' integrated reporting system. Failure to report vehicles results in a $1,500 fine PER VEHICLE by the federal government. Nexus handles vehicle purchases, VIN number decoding and NMVTIS reporting automatically!


Legal Mandates


Updated January 2014

State Requirements

In order to sell scrap metal, sellers will be required to:

  • Provide and allow copy of driver’s license or state ID
  • Provide sellers name, address, home and work phone numbers, identifying marks and race. 
  • Provide right thumb print (or other thumb or fingerprint if right thumb is not available)
  • Allow a video or photograph clearly showing the face of the seller as well as the materials being sold.
  • A signed statement from the person delivering the regulated metals property stating that she or he is the rightful owner of, or is entitled to sell, the regulated metals property being sold.

Buyer’s must:

  • Make, model and license plate number of sellers vehicle used to transport scrap
  • All sales tickets must have date and time and place of the sale, as well as the initials of the clerk completing the sale.
    • Must also show the weight, type, color, quantity and/or volume of the material.
    • If the item has a serial number, the number must be kept on file along with a description of the item.
    • Sales tickets must be signed by the seller.  Seller will receive a copy of the receipt and buyer will retain a copy.
  • Report purchased vehicle information to NMVTIS.

Scrap recyclers must maintain a record of all purchases for a minimum of 3 years and is subject to inspection by any law enforcement at any time.

All purchases must be paid by check made payable to the seller and mailed to their home address within three days (cannot be a PO box or motel room).  Checks can be issued immediately to organizations or companies.

A record of daily transactions must be provided to the *Business Watch International R.A.P.I.D. system by 10:00 a.m. the day after the transactions which includes all information recorded on sales tickets.  The price paid for the materials should not be included in this record.

Any item that has a serial number must be entered into the Department of Law Enforcement’s stolen article database to determine if it is stolen 48 hours before they can be destroyed for resold.

If the purchase involves a beer keg, the seller must provide written documentation from the manufacturer that the seller is the owner of the keg or an employee or agent of the manufacturer.

No business transactions may take place between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m.

It is unlawful to purchase any materials from persons younger than 18 years of age, or persons visibly under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

It is unlawful to purchase any of the following materials unless the seller can produce written documentation that they are the owner or are legally authorized to sell the materials:  manhole covers, utility lights or fixtures, guard rails, street signs, telecommunication wire, funeral markers or vases, historical markers, railroad ties or rails, or any material marked with government or utility marks or names, air conditioner coils or parts, propane tanks, beer kegs, catalytic converters (unless part of a vehicle), metallic wire that has been burned or has had the protective covering removed, water meter covers, shopping cart, storm grate, and/or brass water sprinkler/fixture.

NOTE:  Be aware of ordinances in your city or county which may differ from state laws.

 

Links to Other Important Information for Florida Salvage/Recycling

Auto-Parts Salvage/Recycling

http://dor.myflorida.com/dor/taxes/secondhand_dealers_recyclers.html

 

http://www.bwipolice.com/index.phpoption=com_content&view=article&id=2&Itemid=3

 Florida secondary metals form: http://www.fdle.state.fl.us/Content/getdoc/8958f721-28a8-4f7a-bbbf-b39dbc44f84b/floridaSecRecycPurchaseTransFillForm.aspxhtml 

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