Tighten the rules for metal scrappers

What started as the helpful removal of trash has now accelerated to blatant theft. Stealing school buses and shredding them. Come on, where does it stop? We have seen graves robbed — brass medallions and flower pots taken from them. Now cemeteries have motion sensors and cameras for security. but who will protect the brass gutters on churches, catalytic converters, home air conditioners and even stadium bleachers? Let’s stop this; not a day goes by where we don’t see pickups with 7-foot sides overladen with junk, creating a potential safety hazard. Enough!

We need to solve this problem. Let’s make it mandatory to have a license to pick up scrap, a valid driver’s license, reliable transportation emissions testing, height limits on truck and specs on material used, and logs recording where and when items were had. In addition, monies paid to scrappers should be taxed, and police need to check items at discretion the same as with truckers.

Hopefully, this can get the problem under control and generate more needed state revenue.

Ronald B. Maciaszek

Des Plaines