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The Saskatchewan government took steps Wednesday to deal with the thefts of scrap metal and vehicles in the province.
A new piece of legislation creates reporting requirements for scrap metal dealers to address the possible sale of stolen copper and other metals.
“Police services, farmers and businesses in Saskatchewan have told us about the dangerous growth of metal theft,” Justice Minister and Attorney General Gordon Wyant said in a media release.
“This legislation will serve as a valuable tool for police when working to reduce this type of crime, which is often specifically targeted at rural property owners.”
Under the legislation, scrap metal dealers will be required to get information such as identification from sellers. That data then can be shared with police services to make sure the metal isn’t stolen.
The legislation also prohibits transactions involving individuals under 18 years of age and limits cash transactions.
“These measures will act as a deterrent by removing the ability to quickly make money by anonymously selling stolen metal,” the release said.
Changes also were made under the Traffic Safety Amendment Act, 2020, giving police the ability to charge individuals for actions that are usually connected with auto theft such as:
- providing a falsified, forged or counterfeit document for the sale or registration of a motor vehicle;
- altering information on a bill of sale, including date, signature or vehicle particulars;
- altering a vehicle identification number (VIN) in any manner, either on the vehicle or on the proof of ownership documentation;
- cloning a VIN (taking a VIN from a similar, legally registered vehicle and placing it on a damaged or stolen vehicle to hide its identity); and
- knowingly selling, or offering for sale, a stolen motor vehicle.
Police currently have to charge someone with fraud under the Criminal Code in those instances. With the amended legislation, police can issue a ticket and fine for those offences instead of starting Criminal Code proceedings.
As well, the amendment will require a standardized bill of sale for all private vehicle sales in Saskatchewan, making it more difficult to commit fraud.
