New law could scrap metal businesses

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - A new state law that took effect on Thursday is aimed at cracking down on metal thieves but also adds to burden on legitimate local businesses.

The law attempts to regulate the sale of recycled materials like aluminum and copper wire.

Vences Trujillo is a metal head. He owns Albuquerque Car Crushers, a business that recycles old vehicles and other metals.  He said he loves everything about his dirty job except for the paperwork the state makes him fill out.

"Paperwork is really intensive; it's a majority of the business," Trujillo said. "The state has some real stringent policies to follow."

Before the economy took a downturn, Trujillo was recycling 3,000 to 4,000 tons of material a month.  For every car he accepts, Trujillo must document and verify that the car is not stolen.

As of Jan 1, Trujillo and other scrap metal business owners must require identification and personal information from customers.

The intent is to stop the amount of stolen metal being sold. However, Trujillo said he's not exactly sure how the new law will pan out.

"That's still an unknown," he said.  "It sounds like it's going to even put more restraints on us as far as to continue doing business,."

It's a new law that may stop some shops from accepting stolen scrap metal, but it may also put owners like Trujillo out of business because now the paperwork outweighs the metal.

The law carries fines up to $1,000 per violation. It's unclear at this point which organization would enforce the law.