Scrap Metal Laws By State
Washington Scrap Metal Laws
Payment Restrictions:
Fingerprinting:
Video Recording:
Tag and Hold:
License Scanning:
Vehicle Descriptions:
Taking Photographs of Materials:
Taking Photographs of Customers Faces:
Notify Law Enforcement:
NMVTIS Reporting:
Legal Mandates
Updated January 2014
***Changes Effective January 1, 2014.
State Requirements
In order to sell scrap metal, sellers will be required to:
· Agree to allow photocopy of driver's license or state ID card;
· Sign a statement indicating that they are the owner of or are authorized to sell the metal;
· Sign a statement that they have not been convicted of metal theft (Statement must include "I, the undersigned, affirm under penalty of law that the property that is subject to this transaction is not to the best of my knowledge stolen property." The declaration must be signed and dated by the person with whom the transaction is being made. An employee of the scrap metal business must witness the signing and dating of the declaration and sign the declaration accordingly before any transaction may be consummated.)
· Allow the buyer to take a thumbprint;
Buyer’s must:
- Record description, state and license plate number of sellers vehicle used to transport scrap
- Keep a record of sellers name, address, and telephone number.
- All sales tickets must have date and time of the sale, as well as the location and name of the clerk completing the sale.
- Must also show the type, weight, quantity and/or volume of the material.
- Sales tickets must also show the dollar amount paid for the material.
- Sales tickets must be signed by the seller. Seller will receive a copy of the receipt and buyer will retain a copy.
- Must also show the type, weight, quantity and/or volume of the material.
· Buyer must report purchased vehicle information to NMVTIS
· Tag and hold policies are in effect for a minimum of 10 days
NOTE: All purchases over the amount of $30 must be paid for with a non-transferrable check which will be mailed to the seller’s home after a holding period of 10 days.
***Any persons selling scrap metal more than 12 times in a 12-month period must obtain a license.
***The buyer must pay by check after a 3-day waiting period unless video or photograph of the seller and the material are taken and held, in that case payment on the day of the transaction is allowed.
Recyclers cannot buy materials from the same customer more than once per day.
No transaction involving private metal property or nonferrous metal property valued at greater than thirty dollars may be made in cash or with any person who does not provide a street address.Sales records must give a description of the material sold, plus YOU MUST INCLUDE THE ISRI's code word, or equivalent along with your description of the material. Example.: Yellow Brass - HONEY Radiators-OCEAN e t c. .
No scrap metal business may enter into a transaction to purchase or receive metallic wire that was burned in whole or in part to remove insulation unless the seller can produce written proof to the scrap metal business that the wire was lawfully burned or lawfully recovered from a burned structure.
No scrap metal business may purchase or receive beer kegs from anyone except a distributor or manufacturer of beer kegs or licensed brewery.
It is unlawful to knowingly purchase metal property from a person who has been convicted of any crimes relating to drugs, theft, robbery, burglary and/or possession of stolen property in the past 10 years.
***Keep records, certifications, registrations, etc. on site for 5 years.
Scrap recyclers must maintain a record of all purchases for a minimum of two years and is subject to inspection by any law enforcement at any time. There is a 10-day tag-and-hold policy when notified by law enforcement to do so.
Links to Other Important Information for Washington Salvage/Recycling
Auto-Parts Salvage/Recycling
· Tires - Storage of more than 800 scrap tires and hauling more than 5 scrap tires requires a state license. Enforcement happens at the county health department level and can vary from county to county. For more information on the current status of scrap tire management in Washington State, consult the Scrap Tire Report published in December 2002 by the Washington State Department of Ecology, Solid Waste and Financial Assistance Program and the Washington Department of Ecology's Waste Tire Overview Web site.
· State Bill 5312: What Washington State requires of all recyclers http://www.co.grant.wa.us/sheriff/Misc_Files/PDF/Metal-Theft-Recycler-Booklet.pdf
· Washington State laws, rules and regulations regarding scrap yards and recyclers can be found at http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=19.290&full=true#19.290.020
o http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=19.290&full=true
*** http://apps.leg.wa.gov/documents/billdocs/2013-14/Pdf/Bills/House%20Bills/1552.pdf.
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