Under legislation proposed by the provincial government, police in Alberta would be able to issue tickets for scrap metal violations and require sellers to provide proof of ownership for catalytic converters.
The amendments to the Scrap Metal Dealers and Recyclers Identification Act would expand sales tracking requirements, let officers lay charges through violation tickets, and give justices of the peace authority to handle certain offences in traffic court.
"These amendments give local law enforcement the flexibility needed to respond effectively to this dangerous and costly criminal behaviour and will help restore the sense of security that has been stolen from communities and rural residents throughout the province in recent years," said Mike Ellis, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services.
If passed, the changes would require scrap purchasers to record the dollar value of a sale, the type and per-ounce price of the metal, and, in the case of catalytic converters, the vehicle identification number and/or proof of ownership. The information would be reported to a database accessible to law enforcement.
The government says the new rules aim to address what local law enforcement agencies have identified as enforcement barriers since the act came into force in 2020.
"This legislation will help to decrease incidents of copper theft while safeguarding the uninterrupted access to emergency services and the internet that Albertans expect," said Brian Lakey, vice-president, Service Reliability Center, Telus.
The province also plans changes to the Procedures Regulation and the Justice of the Peace Regulation. Officers would be allowed to issue violation tickets for certain offences, and individuals could either pay the fine or dispute the charge in traffic court.
"Streamlining the enforcement of penalties ensures that justice is served swiftly, and resources are focused where they are needed most. By empowering justices of the peace to hear cases related to illegal activity concerning scrap metal, the court system can focus on more complex cases while maintaining fairness and accessibility for Albertans," said Mickey Amery, Minister of Justice and Attorney General.
The province said copper wire theft increased by 93 per cent in Alberta between 2021 and 2024. The Calgary Police Service reported a 135 per cent rise, with the Edmonton Police Service and RCMP logging increases of 76 and 88 per cent, respectively.
Theft of copper wire has the potential to disrupt essential services such as power and internet access, which the province says may prevent Albertans from reaching police or emergency services during a crisis.
The government says the amendments target criminal activity while protecting Alberta’s legitimate scrap metal industry and law-abiding recyclers.
Sign up to get the latest local news headlines delivered directly to your inbox every afternoon.
Send your news tips, story ideas, pictures, and videos to news@centralalbertaonline.com.
CentralAlbertaOnline encourages you to get your news directly from your trusted source by bookmarking this page and downloading the CentralAlbertaOnline app.