Selling scrap metal? New three-day wait to get paid
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Gov. Ted Kulongoski signed a bill into law Thursday that requires scrap metal dealers to pay for their material with a check mailed to the seller's home instead of cash on the spot.
The dealers would also have to keep a record of each transaction for a year, and notify police if they suspect metal is stolen.
Metal thieves, many seeking quick cash for drugs, have been ravaging Oregon for years, stealing everything from gutters and bleachers to sculptures and catalytic converters.
The legislation, Senate Bill 570, faced little opposition on its way to the governor's desk. The new law likely takes effect Jan. 1, 2010.
- KATU.com Producer Jennifer Meacham contributed to this report.
