Scrap Metal Laws By State

Louisiana Scrap Metal Laws

Payment Restrictions:

Louisiana 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:

Louisiana 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:

Louisiana 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:

Louisiana 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:

Louisiana 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:

Louisiana 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:

Louisiana 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:

Louisiana 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:

Louisiana 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 Louisiana 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:

Allow a copy of the seller’s a driver's license or state ID card;
Allow the buyer to take a thumbprint;
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

Buyer’s must:

Record issuing state and license plate number of sellers vehicle used to transport scrap
A video or photograph of the seller (clearly showing the sellers face) and the material being sold.
Keep a record of sellers name, address and date of sale
All sales tickets must have location of sale, date and time of the sale, as well as the initials of the clerk completing the sale.
- Must also show the weight, quantity and/or volume, and description of the material.
- Sales tickets must be signed by the seller. Seller will receive a copy of the receipt and buyer will retain a copy.

· Buyer must report purchased vehicle information to NMVTIS

· Tag and hold policy is in effect (for a minimum of 10 days)

NOTE: Please be aware of your local ordinances. Many cities and counties have additional ordinances that may not be listed here.

Keep records, certifications, registrations, etc. on site for 3 years.

Scrap recyclers must maintain a record of all purchases for a minimum of three years and is subject to inspection by any law enforcement at any time. There is a tag-and-hold policy for a minimum of 10 working days when notified by law enforcement to do so.

It is unlawful to purchase any metals (other than aluminum cans) from person under the age of 18 years.

All purchases of copper or metals in excess of $300 must be paid by non-transferrable check made payable to the seller and mailed to their home after a 5 day waiting period. No transactions shall be made in cash. Checks cannot be cashed at the facility where it was written.

Any purchases for metals (not including copper) under the amount of $300 can be made in cash or by check (with no waiting period).

Scrap recyclers must not purchase metals from any person for an amount above $300 more than once in a 24 hour period.

It is unlawful for recyclers to cash checks that the company has written, either by a cash machine or customer service representative.

It is unlawful to purchase any scrap metal between the hours of 7 p.m. and 7 a.m.

Any purchases of the following materials require a copy of a valid contractor’s license or written proof that the person is legally authorized to sell the metal on the behalf of a company or distributor:

Railroad track materials, beer kegs, burned or smelted wire, any material with the markings of a private company or government entity, utility access cover, water meter cover, guard rail, street/traffic signs, or catalytic converters that are not attached to a motor vehicle.

Every secondary metal processor or licensed automotive dismantler and parts recycler shall submit an electronic report to the office of motor vehicles of the vehicle identification number (VIN) of each auto hulk received from a seller. The report shall be in a form approved by the office of motor vehicles and shall be submitted within seventy-two hours of the purchase of the auto hulk.

A daily record of activity must be submitted electronically to local law enforcement by noon on the day following the transactions.

Links to Other Important Information for Louisiana Salvage/Recycling

Auto-Parts Salvage/Recycling

· Scrap Tires – http://www.epa.gov/region6/tires/

· Batteries - http://legis.la.gov/lss/lss.asp?doc=87432

· Environmental Safety pertaining to junkyards - http://www.deq.louisiana.gov/portal/portals/0/planning/regs/pdf/SW042fin.pdf

· Regulations for scrap yards and junkyards - http://legis.la.gov/lss/lss.asp?doc=408771, http://legis.la.gov/lss/lss.asp?doc=88534 and http://legis.la.gov/lss/lss.asp?doc=93503 http://legis.la.gov/billdata/streamdocument.asp?did=812488

Pending legislation: http://www.legis.la.gov/legis/ViewDocument.aspx?d=845700