Conduit Street

The Baltimore City Council recently passed a bill through second reader to regulate scrap metal dealers. The effort would be substantially similar to a bill already passed in Baltimore County.

MACo has advocated for sensible regulation of scrap metal dealers, to help to curb an “easy money” environment that has led to numerous incidents of property theft and destruction. MACo supported statewide legislation each of the last two years to address this issue (see SB32-ECM from 2009), but each time the bills have failed in the waning hours of the legislative session.

With two large jurisdictions making gains in this area, MACo remains hopeful that the General Assembly will be able to create a statewide law to govern these transactions — to assist law enforcement in pursuing property crimes, as well as to limit the potential for stolen goods to so easily enter the scrap metal stream. It will also remain a MACo priority to retain the effects of local legislation — and to avoid any new statewide bill (especially one with weaker standards than these local bills) from preempting local authority.

Click links below to see the local bills
Baltimore City legislation (on way toward passage)
Baltimore County legislation (passed)

The Baltimore County Council unanimously adopted a law regulating local scrap metal dealers.  This regulatory authority has existed for local governments, but many counties have expressed concern about the very limited ability of any one political jurisdiction to address the crime problems connected to property theft and “easy money” for metal goods — as long as individual may cross county lines to find less regulated dealers, the problems will continue to some degree.

MACo, who adopted statewide reform in this area as one of its legislative initiatives in 2009, continues to pursue this issue.  Last year’s bill, SB 32, was defeated at the close of session despite a conference committee report resolving differences between the two passed versions of the bill.  The bill’s lead sponsor, Senator Ed Degrange, has expressed his intent to reintroduce the bill in the 2010 session.

MACo is hopeful that with added interest from more jurisdictions in local legislation, the regulated community may increasingly see a uniform, reasonable regulation as a preferred alternative to varying rules by county.