Clark County Bans Selling Copper Wire With Proper Papers
Copper coppers better act proper or the coppers will bring their copter. The Clark County Commission passed an ordinance that effectively bans selling copper wire for those without the proper documentation to do so.
Recycling plants and scrap yards in the county’s jurisdiction will now be forced to turn away copper wire peddlers who don’t have the paperwork that shows they are licensed to do so. Businesses are also banned from purchasing scrap metal from walk-up sellers and making cash payments for copper wire.
Commissioner Michael Naft proposed the ordinance in an attempt to combat wire theft.
Making Selling Copper Wire Harder May “Cut” Down Thefts
It has been happening way too much in Southern Nevada. Enterprising thieves find an air conditioning unit, street light or whatever other electrical item sporting copper wire and take that to get paid at a scrap yard. It is costing residents, businesses and the government millions.
By requiring sellers to provide documentation verifying the lawful acquisition of copper wire (particularly seven-strand copper wire that is commonly used in municipal or utility operations), they hope to cut down on the practice in general. Although there is nothing stopping them from driving the wire out of the valley to cash in elsewhere.
Clark County estimates that nearly 1 million feet of streetlight wiring has been stolen since 2022, costing taxpayers over $1.5 million in replacements.
While we’ve been just secretly hoping thieves would just get an ironic shock treatment, this will do. Now leave our streetlights alone. Being a driver or pedestrian in this city is hard enough with the lights.