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BROOKSVILLE — In an effort to curtail the growing problem of theft of precious metals and copper, the Hernando County Commission on Tuesday unanimously approved new rules for secondary metals recyclers.
The ordinance was supported by the Hernando County Sheriff's Office and the Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative.
Metal theft from the electric company "is a critical safety concern to us,'' utility spokesman David Lambert told commissioners.
Lambert described the exponential increase in theft from power poles and other electrical equipment, noting that the thefts cost the company $6,861 in 2007 but grew to $266,780 last year.
The copper taken from equipment strips its ability to ground if there is a lightning strike, he said.
That means it can blow out a substation or send a dangerous charge into a home, possibly burning out appliances, injuring someone or starting a fire.
"We have to protect the membership of this cooperative,'' Lambert said.
Hernando's ordinance is similar to measures enacted in other counties, including Hillsborough, Pasco, Leon and Seminole.
In Hernando County, law enforcement has seen a spate of recent incidents in which people stole metal — specifically air conditioner parts from homes, businesses, churches and even a local post of the Veterans of Foreign Wars — then sought to recycle it for cash.
The ordinance treats secondary metal recyclers like pawn shops in that they must create a real-time database of purchases so that law enforcement can check transactions immediately if there is a report of metal theft.
Lambert said that will be a big help to the utility because crews examine equipment every day. If they find something missing, they contact law enforcement. With the database, the missing parts hopefully can be found before they are melted down.
"It provides a better opportunity to catch the people who have stolen our equipment,'' he said.
Some requirements of state law are echoed in the ordinance. Recyclers must register with the Florida Department of Revenue and the county tax collector and be open to law enforcement inspections to make sure that the provisions of the ordinance are being followed.
Recyclers also must keep detailed electronic records about sellers, including name, time and date of the transaction, the number on an identification card, a personal description of the seller and a vehicle description, including make, model and tag number.
A digital photograph of the regulated metals sold is also required.
The local ordinance adds the requirement that all of the information gathered from each metal purchase will be transmitted to the Sheriff's Office by 10 a.m. each day the recycler is open and no later than 24 hours after the transaction.
The local ordinance also requires a recycler to post a sign with letters at least 2 inches tall announcing that anyone selling metals has to present a valid identification card and provide a signature and a thumbprint.
The sign would also have to state: "We will not accept any whole, partially dismantled or crushed appliance for disposal without accompanying documentation from a certified technician of proper refrigerant removal.''
Barbara Behrendt can be reached at behrendt@tampabay.com or (352) 848-1434.
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