NEW YORK — A Connecticut state legislator has introduced a measure that would tighten existing copper scrap regulations by requiring scrap metal processors to document all copper sellers’ driver’s license information.

“We know that copper theft has really gotten out of hand,” state Rep. Ernest Hewett (D., District 39), who is sponsoring H.B.5048, told AMM. “We need to see who these people are who are selling to the scrapyards.”

“We always take photocopies of licenses, regardless of the law,” noted a Connecticut recycler.“We’re not interested in buying anything stolen. I think it’s a good idea to make it the law. It puts things on an even playing field.”

The proposed amendment is set to go before the state’s General Assembly in the first half of the year.