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Consumer Protection
RSMo 407.302effective 28 Aug 2023

Metal belonging to various entities

In plain English

Scrap yards are not allowed to buy certain metals — like copper wiring, manhole covers, guardrails, street signs, or traffic lights — that belong to cemeteries, utility companies, or local governments. A scrap yard can only buy these metals from the owner or someone who has written permission from the owner. Breaking this rule is a class B misdemeanor.

Penalties named in this law
class B misdemeanorup to 6 months in jail

Classifications stated in the statute. Actual outcomes vary.

Word-for-word law

407.302. Metal belonging to various entities — not to purchase — violation, . — 1. No scrap yard shall purchase any metal that can be identified as belonging to a public or private cemetery, , , cable , wireless or other communications-related provider, , water , utility, or utility regulated under chapter 386 or 393, including of pair or greater existing in 19, 22, 24, or 26 gauge burnt wire, bleachers, guardrails, signs, street and traffic lights or signals, and manhole cover or covers, whether broken or unbroken, from anyone other than the cemetery or monument owner, political subdivision, telecommunications provider, cable provider, wireless service or other communications-related provider, electrical cooperative, water utility, municipal utility, utility regulated under chapter 386 or 393, or of the metal or item described in this section unless such person is in writing by the cemetery or monument owner, political subdivision, telecommunications provider, cable provider, wireless service or other communications-related provider, electrical cooperative, water utility, municipal utility, utility regulated under chapter 386 or 393, or manufacturer to sell the metal.

2. Anyone of violating this section shall be guilty of a .

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Source & history notes

(L. 2008 S.B. 1034 & 802, A.L. 2013 S.B. 157 and S.B. 102, A.L. 2023 S.B. 186)

View official source

Legal information, not legal advice. Always confirm with the official source at revisor.mo.gov.

RSMo 407.302: Metal belonging to various entities | KnowMo Laws