Permits for Metal Sales Available Tuesday

Copper thieves won't get away with their crimes  as easily starting next week.

The copper theft bill that Gov. Haley signed on June 20 goes into effect on Aug. 16. It requires that anyone selling or buying non-ferrous metals have a permit from their local sheriff's office. 

Non-ferrous metals include aluminum, copper, lead, zinc and tin. 

The Richland County Sheriff's Department will start issuing permits on Tuesday, Sheriff Leon Lott said at a press conference Monday. 

"We know that there's going to be a huge rush," Lott said. "Don't wait until the last minute." 

Two types of permits are available: 48-hour permits and annual permits.

A 48-hour permit can be obtained anytime by calling 803-576-3000.

To obtain an annual permit, the seller must come to the sheriff's department at 5623 Two Notch Road.

In both cases, the seller must provide his or her name, driver's license number and the tag number of the vehicle that will be used to transport the metal. 

Lott said Richland County has been hit hard by copper theft. Officers have also responded to several calls about the theft of catalytic converters in the past couple of weeks. 

The law is designed to reduce those crimes.

"The people we want to make this difficult for are the bad guys," Lott said. "I feel it's going to have a dramatic effect on copper theft and metal theft." 

The law does require some changes for recyclers, such as prohibiting them from paying sellers in cash. 

"I think the reason this crime was so popular was because it was a quick way to get cash," Lott said. "I think [the law] will slow that down."

Recyclers will use Richland County's online database to determine if a seller has a valid permit. 

Sen. Joel Lourie, D-Richland, was one of the legislators who helped create a compromise to get the bill passed. The law isn't trying to stop the sale of metals, Lourie said at the press conference Monday, as four recycling business owners stood beside him.

"The people you see standing beside me have been instrumental in getting a bill passed," Lourie said. "Our goal is for there to be a legitimate market for metal sales."