Barnes Recycling - Tennessee Scrap Metal & Aluminum Recycling - Special Rules to Protect Government Property, Historical Markers and Cemeteries

Special Rules to Protect Government Property, Historical Markers and Cemeteries

It is a Class A misdemeanor (and possibly subject to other theft offenses) to knowingly sell or attempt to sell to a scrap metal dealer, or for a scrap metal dealer to knowingly purchase or attempt to purchase the following types of scrap metal (unless the person attempting to sell the scrap metal provides reasonable, written documentation that the seller is the owner of the scrap metal or is an employee, agent or other person authorized to sell the scrap metal on behalf of the owner; then the dealer must make a photo copy of any such documentation and retain it as part of the transaction record):

  • Scrap metal marked with the initials of an electric, telephone, cable or other public utility, or an electric or telephone cooperative;
  • Utility access covers;
  • Street light poles and fixtures;
  • Road and bridge guard rails;
  • Highway or street signs;
  • Water meter covers;
  • Traffic directional and control signs;
  • Traffic light signals;
  • Any scrap metal visibly marked or painted with the name of a government entity, business, company or the name of the owner of such metal (the scrap metal must be marked or painted in accordance with a uniform scrap metal marking system to be adopted by department rules);
  • Property owned by a telephone, cable, electric, water or other utility, an electric or telephone cooperative or a railroad, and marked or otherwise identified as such;
  • Unused and undamaged historical markers, or grave markers and vases.