Scrap Metal Laws By State

Minnesota Scrap Metal Laws

Payment Restrictions:

Minnesota 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:

Minnesota does not require fingerprints.

Video Recording:

Minnesota 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:

Minnesota 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:

Minnesota 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:

Minnesota 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:

Minnesota 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:

Minnesota 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:

Minnesota does not require law enforcement notification.

NMVTIS Reporting:

ALL STATES, not just Minnesota 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

***Effective 8/1/2013

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
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 license plate number and description of sellers vehicle used to transport scrap
Keep an electronic record of sellers name, address and date of sale
All sales must be recorded by video and include the face of the seller, the license plate of the vehicle used to transport the material and of the material being purchased
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 of the material.
- Must include a general description of the material and if the material is insulated.
- 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 90 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 90 days when notified by law enforcement to do so. (Purchase of aluminum beverage cans only are exempt from this rule.)

Personal information of all clients must be kept confidential except to law enforcement agents.

***All vehicles sold for scrap must have a valid title or other proof of ownership.

No scrap metal business may purchase or receive beer kegs from anyone except a distributor or manufacturer of beer kegs or licensed brewery.

All payments must be made with a non-transferrable check made payable to the seller or a money transfer.

Every scrap metal dealer shall register with and participate in the criminal alert network. The dealer shall ensure that the dealer's system for receiving incoming notices from the network is in proper working order and ready to receive incoming notices. The dealer shall check the system for incoming notices twice each day the business is open, once upon opening and then again before closing. The dealer shall inform all employees involved in the purchasing or receiving of scrap metal of alerts received relating to scrap metal of the type that might be conceivably sold to the dealer. In addition, the dealer shall post copies of the alerts in a conspicuous location.

***Beginning in January 2015, all operators and dealers must enter information into the Automatic Property System.

Links to Other Important Information for Minnesota Salvage/Recycling

Auto-Parts Salvage/Recycling

· Scrap Tires – https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/?id=115A.902&year=2011

· Environmental Safety pertaining to junkyards - https://www.revisor.mn.gov/topics/?type=statute&id=S3965036&year=2011

· Regulations for scrap yards and junkyards - www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/?id=325E.21

https://www.revisor.mn.gov/laws/?id=126&year=2013&type=0