Propst introduces ‘Copper Wire Theft Control Act’
Rep. Edwin K. Propst (Ind-Saipan) wants to slap no less than a $5,000 fine and/or jail time for no less than one year for those caught selling or exporting copper wire in the CNMI.
Propst has introduced House Bill 19-174, or the “Copper Wire Theft Control Act of 2016,” which aims to prohibit the selling and exporting of copper wire.
The bill says copper wire theft has been a huge problem in the CNMI for decades and continues to escalate, costing government, businesses, and residents millions of dollars.
“The pursuit of copper has become so common that even copper candle holders at cemeteries are being stolen,” the bill states.
It notes a problem of how stolen copper wire becomes “virtually untraceable” and impossible to retrieve because stolen copper has no ID tags or serial numbers that make them identifiable like other stolen goods.
The bill also notes the over $700,000 that the Marianas Visitors Authority invested in Beach Road pathway lights that was sabotaged by copper wire thieves who stole some 1,360 feet of wire, with a follow up attempt a few weeks later.
“It would be safe to assume there will be future attempts and if copper wire thieves are successful, we will see a dark pathway once again,” the bill says.
The bill goes on to cite national statistics on state legislatures that show that 33 states have enacted laws to regulate scrap metal, inclusive of copper, sales and theft as of 2008. And that as of 2013, the total number increased to 49 states.
It also notes that other countries such as the Bahamas have banned the exporting of copper wire to eliminate the demand for stolen copper wire.
At one time there was a “hold” on all scrap containers leaving the CNMI. I think it was a 45 day hold. This was to allow inspection of the scrap containers to find stolen wire. But then again DPS never enforces anything so new laws on the book will not matter. Especially when you have recycling centers breaking the law by buying the wire and not following the law on ID and pictures.
(this also is a problem with pawn shops as they buy stolen goods through the back door and do not display or store them on site.
There has to be a start at the source. Until there is a mandatory sentencing of wire thieves such as ten years etc. these yheifts will continue. In Hawaii news, the usual sentencing is ten or more years for such thefts.
Our local courts do not hand out meaningful sentences on anything so we have so many repeat offender walking around and committing more crimes.
Another example would be to actually iban all wire exports. There are places that prohibit the exporting of wire. But then again, it all comes back to enforcement which is almost non existent in the CNMI on almost all laws as offenders usually involves family or relatives of the DPS personnel and/or elected families.