Representative Bill Farmer announced today that he is pre-filing legislation for the 2012 session that, if passed, would institute new rules on copper scrap in Kentucky.

"The laws we have are not detouring people from stealing copper and damaging businesses, schools and churches." says Farmer.

Farmer says his bill offers stricter punishment for copper thefts that would no longer be based on the amount of copper you steal but rather the aggregate damage you do. The bill would also require copper sellers to present an id at the time of the sell.

"The big proposed changes are that whoever buys the copper itself would have to record the name and address of the person selling it." he adds.

But Mr. Metal Recycling owner Reid Cordle says the stricter requirements that would be placed on businesses wouldn't be anything new to them.

"We have to take I.D.’s, we have to get serial numbers on vehicles, and we take pictures of the people with the products." says Cordle.

Cordle says he is already required by federal law to do the majority of the things the bill covers.
And when people bring in ground wires off electric poles and towers he automatically takes action.

"If we see those we now those people didn't own it. So we contact the police to let them know and we keep their ID and everything and just turn them in." he adds.

Cordle says the price of copper scrap has gradually gone down over the last three weeks and currently comes in at just a dollar per pound

The 2012 regular session of the Kentucky General Assembly is scheduled to begin on January 3rd and conclude April 9th.