Certain materials, collectors and dealers to keep register, information required
Junk dealers, scrap metal buyers, and collectors who buy or trade certain metals for profit have to keep detailed records of each transaction. The metals covered include copper, brass, bronze, certain aluminum items, farming materials made of those metals, detached catalytic converters, and vehicle or equipment batteries. For each deal, the record must include a copy of the seller's ID, their address, gender, birthdate, a color photo, the date and place of the deal, the vehicle's license plate number, and a full description of what was sold including weight and price. These records must be kept for at least 36 months and shown to law enforcement if asked. Deals involving a detached catalytic converter can only happen at the buyer's actual business location, and the converter cannot be taken apart or changed for five business days after purchase. A licensed dealer who knowingly buys a stolen catalytic converter faces fines — $5,000 for a first offense, $10,000 for a second, and loss of their license for a third. Some transactions are exempt, like deals with established businesses that have an ongoing relationship with the dealer and pay by check or electronic transfer, or deals where the regulated metal is just a small part of a bigger item (with some exceptions).
407.300. Certain s, s and s to keep , required — transaction, limit on location — stolen catalytic converter, purchase of, penalties — transactions. — 1. Every purchaser or collector of, or dealer in, , scrap metal, or any secondhand property who obtains items for or profit shall keep a register containing a written or electronic for each purchase or trade in which each type of material subject to the of this section is obtained for value. There shall be a separate record for each transaction involving any:
(1) Copper, brass, or bronze;
(2) Aluminum wire, cable, pipe, tubing, bar, , rod, fitting, or fastener;
(3) Material containing copper or aluminum that is used for farming purposes as farming is defined in section 350.010; whatever may be the condition or length of such metal;
(4) ; or
(5) Motor vehicle, heavy equipment, or tractor .
2. The record required by this section shall contain the following data:
(1) A copy of the driver's or photo identification issued by the state or by the United States government or agency thereof of the person from whom the material is obtained;
(2) The current address, gender, birth date, and a color photograph of the person from whom the material is obtained if not included or are different from the identification required in (1) of this ;
(3) The date, time, and place of the transaction;
(4) The license number of the vehicle used by the during the transaction; and
(5) A full description of the material, including the weight and purchase price.
3. The records required under this section shall be maintained for a minimum of thirty-six months from when such material is obtained and shall be available for inspection by any .
4. No transaction that includes a detached catalytic converter shall occur at any location other than the place of business of the purchaser or collector of, or dealer in, junk, scrap metal, or any secondhand property. No detached catalytic converter shall be altered, , disassembled, or destroyed until it has been in the purchaser's, collector's, or dealer's possession for five business days.
5. Anyone licensed under section 301.218 who knowingly purchases a stolen detached catalytic converter shall be subject to the following penalties:
(1) For a first violation, a fine in the amount of five thousand dollars;
(2) For a second violation, a fine in the amount of ten thousand dollars; and
(3) For a third violation, of the license for a business described under section 301.218.
6. This section shall not apply to either of the following transactions:
(1) Any transaction for which the seller has an existing business relationship with the and is known to the scrap metal dealer making the purchase to be an established business or that operates a business with a that can be reasonably expected to generate and can be reasonably identified as such a business, and for which the seller is paid by check or by , or the seller produces an acceptable identification, which shall be a copy of the driver's license or photo identification issued by the state or by the United States government or agency thereof, and a copy is retained by the purchaser; or
(2) Any transaction for which the type of metal subject to subsection 1 of this section is a part of a larger item, except for heating and cooling equipment or equipment used in the generation and transmission of electrical power or telecommunications.
Tap any gold-underlined word to see what it means.
Source & history notes
(L. 1971 H.B. 124 § 1, A.L. 2008 S.B. 1034 & 802, A.L. 2013 H.B. 103 and S.B. 157 and S.B. 102, A.L. 2014 H.B. 1245, A.L. 2018 H.B. 1832, A.L. 2021 H.B. 69 merged with H.B. 271)
Legal information, not legal advice. Always confirm with the official source at revisor.mo.gov.