Explanation
The theft of motor vehicles, motor vehicle parts, and various types of metal material and articles that have value as scrap metal is a significant and growing problem for law enforcement agencies, contractors and builders, utility providers, business owners, homeowners, and the citizens of Columbus. Current regulation of businesses that deal in scrap metal has proven to be ineffective at detecting or preventing this illegal activity at the point at which stolen items are sold as scrap metal. This ordinance is designed to provide licensing and regulation of scrap metal dealers to help ensure that motor vehicles and metal sold as scrap metal are legitimately owned by the seller and not stolen property and to assist in the recovery of stolen property. This will be accomplished through the establishment of licensing, record-keeping, and retention period requirements, along with inspection authority to ensure compliance with these requirements.
The repeal of the existing City Code chapter dealing with salvage motor vehicle dealers is the consequence of regulating the purchase of motor vehicles and parts for scrap under this new chapter and the preemption by state law of local regulation of salvage motor vehicle dealers.
Title
To amend Title 5 of the Columbus City Codes, 1959, by enacting new Chapter 550 of the Columbus City Codes, entitled "Scrap Metal Dealers," to establish licensing requirements for scrap metal dealers, and to repeal existing Chapter 543, entitled "Salvage Motor Vehicle Dealers."
Body
WHEREAS, the theft of motor vehicles, motor vehicle parts, and various types of metal material and articles that have value as scrap metal is a significant and growing problem for law enforcement agencies, contractors and builders, utility providers, business owners, homeowners, and the citizens of Columbus; and,
WHEREAS, current regulation of businesses that deal in scrap metal has proven to be ineffective at detecting or pr...
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