do we need more law and regulation ?

I would have trouble telling cops where every last piece came from. Oh, that treadmill, was a freebie pickup off CL last Thursday. No wait that one was a curb pickup, CL freebie was some misc gym equipment.

That water heater was a curb pickup at 123 anytown lane. Or was that 321 mind your business lane? I don't recall now.

All my scrap is legit but keep on dreaming if I am going to record and take notes on every last piece I pick up.

After awhile all the dryers look alike...as do the washers...water heaters, etc etc etc infinity.

the Core problem is Metal theft with the payment system so i hate the law but in one condition Law would able to like simply if i have pieces Of Metal in my truck and i couldn't explain to the officer then by the Law officer could put me in jail there at least i won't work hard for my next meal....You know jail is fun....

Allot of the major yards now have cops in uniform or working undercover in allot of scrap yards. I have also witnessed the scales being shut down and the cops coming to arrest people for stolen material. Trust me there aren't many yards that still will accept stolen material. The yard owners are the ones held accountable for buying stolen material. Track plates, city manhole covers and water covers, brand new pallet racking, etc. I have seen people arrested for everything. Heck I can even name you the yards in my area that do accept stolen material. Proper training and checking loads are pretty much standard measure now a days at the major yards. No one is going to question a water heater or a washer. Whats the cop going to ask did you break into there house carry it up the stairs and outside to your truck. Its the people bringing in buckets of copper that you can tell was stripped from out of a vacant house or something that has the local power companies name all over it. Stolen material is very easy to spot. There are also allot of yards that don't buy from the public. Commercial and industrial accounts only.

The problem I have in my neighborhood living in the city is the bums going through recycling dumpster in the back of my alley.

Originally Posted by olddude

those of you under 50 have absolutly no Idea what freedom was once upon a time in this country.

At a ripe old 38, I have only stories from my parents and grandparents to cherish, and aim for. They saw beyond the political indoctrination of public schools, and instilled in me the true values and meanings of personal liberty, and basic understanding of simple economics. As a result, I thank God that they gave me the tools to do the same for my own children.

Like the old addage says....when guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns.....same concept!
olddude..thanks for sharing.

I was searching for a link for the recently passed scrap law in Saint Louis, MO it was passed last friday.

http://blogs.riverfronttimes.com/dai...ill_passes.php

I admire any one who wqnts to grow and be a sucess no matter what they are doing, so my hat is off to you Scrap it. I have been there done that a couple of times, but I am old and tired, and now all I want is to lead a productive life and try to enjoy my last few years.

I dont know what the answer is to stopping the thieves, Im just not sure we can, in fact Im pretty sure we cant, we can only try to slow them down, and those of us who honor this profesion tru to bring it up to be respected like any other. it is after all like any other.

I believe all we can do is be proffesional, and yes just because we have an old truck dosent mean we cant keep it looking presentable, I do think that would help the image.
it is amaising qwhat you can do with a few cans of spray paint some sand paper and cans of clear coat.

as tasteless as it is to most of us we must be the eyes and ears of enforcement. By nature we are all independent young or old cusses, so it is sometimes difficult to work together or with each other, but I believe we must. or we are destined to go the way of independent trash collectors., independent loan givers (pawn shops) and other like businesses, who have been regulated to the point you already have to be wealthy to participate. all of the above businesses were at one time just like us and had simular problems with unscrupulis people who caused them to be regulated as they are today.

I dont have the magic answeres , I wish I did. I still am in favor of a loosely knit association of independent scrappers who can work with la enforcement , city councils and state representitives. with the basic rule of honesty, and good operating practices.

once an organisation like this is established, it can and will have a voice with both the enforcement and regulating bodies. No long rules or big dues, just basicly, if you are honist your in, if your not or your a tweeker your out. if we were able to do this it would not be long untill every one knew who was in and who were the outlaws.

Another problem we have in Saint Louis is stealing bricks. Its amazing the boldness that the thieves have. Watch the youtube video of it.

Originally Posted by olddude

those of you under 50 have absolutly no Idea what freedom was once upon a time in this country.

I am 33 and wish I knew what it was like back then. Now I can barely turn around w/o some government interference.

Originally Posted by KZBell

I've seen some of his other posts and he's either had a few too many or something is getting lost in the translation program he's using.

He is taking bits of posts and meshing them together. Hard saying what his deal is. Probably buttering up the forum for spam.

Originally Posted by Mick

I once drove from Homestead, Fla to Tomah, Wisconsin (1657 miles/2666 kilometers) and back on a three-day pass. Averaged over 100 mph (161kph) and never got a ticket or even pulled over.

Iotally IRRESPONSIBLE

We dont need more regulation the thieves do.
as far as new laws there are already sufficient law on the books to handle our problems many times over. it is not a law or regulation problem, it is an enforcement problem.

Sooo, from an enforcement standpoint, is it easier to catch all the theives at the many widespread locations where they're stealing the goods, or is it easier and more cost effective to catch them at the one place they all come to unload them? (And keep in mind that law enforcement is paid for by the tax dollars everybody hates forking over.):confused: