fined for picking up trash . THIS MAKES ME SICK !!!!

Furloughed worker fined for scrap metal pick-up in Montgomery Co. | WJLA.com

if this was me I would be steamed and heated . we cant let these local towns push us around. ITs bull****.

Thats stupid, it seems like the same reason you can't collect cans at some places to. It sucks because it could easily happen to any of us

If it is the law of the land and we are not happy about it , then we should do something to change it.

just my 2 cents.

That poor furloughed worker who just got a nice paid vacation and in some states is being allowed to collect unemployment for their vacation is just getting by.

Similar laws exist all over the US, the fact of the matter is, is that a person needs to know the laws in their area. Totally absurd that the first time he gets caught he gets hit with a $100 fine, if I were him I would check into entrapment laws in that area.

There would be total uproar in my area if a law like that was ever passed, or was trying to be passed. IMO if someone gets frauded because they are stupid enough to put papers with BANK/CREDIT CARD NUMBERS in the trash, well thats their own fault. It should be up to the person to keep their stuff safe. I never ever ever put any personal info in the trash. Thats just asking for trouble

Honestly i think its like speeding, people are still gonna do it nomatter what law is in place. I think its a waste, a little fine like that wont stop people from potentially stealing thousands from others.

Article stated: It issues tickets because its trying to prevent identity thieves from going through "recycling bins". Any bin marked or labeled would be theft if taken from. In this case sounds like entrapment.

I would expect to see more of this. I look at it as a positive. The amount of curb shoppers is out of control around here. I think it establishes the fact homeowners are going to have to take responsibility for what they put out for garbage. People around here take advantage that scrappers will pickup almost anything they put out. They disregard laws like electronics disposal or even proper hours of when you can set your garbage out. Its like feeding geese; you feed one next thing you know you have 50 in your yard. I own and operate a junk company. Business is affected by curbshoppers. The problem with it is: distinguishing who is in fact out in your garbage and what is their intent; it also is a problem because homeowners do not follow rules and laws, they unknowingly create a safety and liability for themselves when someone uninsured is on their property.

I myself do still curbshop. mainly if I see something I grab it. I don't think everyone uses common sense if there is a bike or mower I knock on the door. They can easily be mistaken for trash, I always see little kids drop their bikes in random spots sometimes near trash on trash day. Kids don't make the correlation and lets face it most scrappers will take it without regard to fill their truck. Ive also seen a lot of people mowing their lawn on trash day stop the mower by the garbage area to go get a drink or lawn bags or gas or whatever and they are out of sight. Scrappers generally will grab and go. Its the start of regulation, regulation starts when there are too many people trying to one unregulated thing.

From a scrappers prospective: it may be silly, sound like harrasement, nit picking government, politics. Think about it in the larger picture. The world does not revolve around us we are part of a larger picture. Organize yourself in a professional manner. Think about if curbshopping is illegal. It creates a niche market the honest hardworking scrappers could enjoy. People would actually have to call you for a scrap pick up instead of you aimlessly driving around scavenging for scrap. You think someone dishonest, illegal, immoral thieves are going to go out and do all that? Embrace it if it happens, I know I will.

Russell you make a very good point. I havent got a call from my ad in weeks.. If curb shopping is made illegal, the calls will start coming in again. It may take a while but hey itll happen. But i will also continue to curb shop in my area until that day comes.

Thanks for that, never really thought that deeply into the subject.

Around here you need to get a special license to go through trash. Although, most cops aren't going to bother you. If you're in a nice city that's a totally different story, they don't even have licenses and will fine you.

Not trying to offend anyone trying to survive and perhaps it is different in my area. 3 years ago I started curbshopping. I would see anywhere from maybe 5-10 regulars in the different areas on their respective trash days. You recognized their trucks. Most guys use huge cages on the back of old pick up trucks. It is now to the point where there is about 12-15 regulars + on any given day you will see additional casuals or 1 timers in everything from mini vans jeeps cars or trucks stopping and grabbing. I personally don't have a problem with anyone doing this as I would be a hypocrite for saying so.

Again as I stated above, speaking from an outsiders perspective. If you see 15,20,30 different people driving around your neighborhood looing into your garbage it starts raising some eyebrows. I know it directly correlates with unemployment or the fact that scrapping pays more than minimum wage jobs. That's common knowledge to scrappers. You cannot have what are technically commercial vehicles roaming around neighborhoods. Too much influx and too many guys go overboard stacking stuff 8 or 10 feet in the air in a half ton truck; they are obviously overweight and probably are not carrying commercial insurance. To me some sort of regulation is inevitable and Im cringing as I type this but I think at some point it's necessary.

Thanks to the OP this is a good article.

I understand the fact to keep order , but the fact is that town and other towns are passing these ordinaces so they can have the scrap to themselves without competition , if you watch the video , the recycling coordinator is a a real piece of **** . I have this issue in my town, im an enemy of my township and the local DPW. they butted heads with me over ewaste . threatened to have me arrested. that's another story, if you want to hear it let me know lol. we cant let these local towns push us around, like they run everything.

As the old saying goes, "Don't lie, cheat or steal - the government hates the competition."

I really don't believe that particular instance had anything to do with "identity theft", which the county claims is their primary reason for this...hmmm..."law" .

"Despite making $1.1 million a year on scrap metal - $100,000 of which comes from curb-side pick-up - Montgomery County says its ordinance is primarily in place to prevent identity theft."

Not sure about entrampment(although it has the makings), but definitely a "sting", targeting nothing but scrappers, and folks like this guy, who was taking the "disposed of" bikes to fix for his kid (there were 4, I'd bet all sizes, he only took two, for the kid). If they had in fact been targeting identity theft, they would have lined the pile with bank books.
I don't believe it was about anything other than money and greed, and in this situation, coming from nothing other than their county government itself, who has nailed 92 people with this, for an add'l $9200(cha-ching!).

The fact of the matter is they DO run things. The fact is the garbage/recycling companies are providing services. Of course where there is money big companies and townships will stick their hand into it. The fact of the matter is homeowners still have a choice not to put things out at the curb and call an independent company to come for pickup. There is nothing saying you cannot compete with other service. If something is put into a bin provided by a company ie recycling bin it is against the law to take from it, period. Depending on how you look at it: are you treading on their territory or are they treading on you? Are you going to provide a weekly service or just pick and choose from whom and when you want? You are not providing a service when you do this, that is called scavenging. Provide a service and you will see things differently.

i admire you professionalism Russell. I have a service but I haven't been able to grow it . my primary source of income is doing clean outs when I can and trash night is a big one. I also buy wire from a yard and flip it , since I have a stripper. so you can understand my reason for concern and that it sounds like im on a warpath. Im a senior in high school and its been rocky the last few years. and im preparing for trade school finically

Adapt and overcome. It sounds like you have the gumption that will get you through tough times.

Very interesting point and lots of great conversation about this.

My first thought about this is to go to court and ask for a jury trial. Of course, hiring a lawyer for this would be cost prohibitive, I would take the chance and represent myself, or try and find someone to handle it pro bono.

All laid out, a jury should find as not guilty.

The "officer" on record saw an item and laid in wait for someone to grab it in my opinion. Is that entrapment? probably not. Is that a waste of the tax payer dollars? definitely. If they had set the items in question out themselves, then maybe an entrapment case could be made. Again, this is all just my opinion as I am not a lawyer.

Should enforcement of raiding from recycling bins be stopped? yes, but this was not in questi0on here. My city currently makes about $40,000 per month from what is in the recycle bins, That figure is getting ready to go up as we will be getting one large lidded bin rather than 2 small bins and we will be going to one single stream recycling. They predict a 50% increase, based on statistics, by introducing one bin with single stream recycling which will mean $60,000 per month for my town. I can support this because when those numbers go up, my home owner taxes won't.

I have strayed a bit from the original post, but tried to address a similar topic. Sounds like it should be free game to me based on the intent of the law, hence why I would request a jury trial and maybe even represent myself.

Again, the above is just an opinion, and I have no legal experience.

Your kidding yourself if you think recycling is going to keep your taxes down. What happens when a twp gets more income? The board will vote themselves a raise or make up a new position for cousin so and so.

Have at least five guys on my trash route and some of them do steal. I've been hit by them before and so have the neighbors. Cops don't do **** when they are called about metal, batteries and toy thefts. People walk into yards all the time a steal what they say is free recycle for them. We do have laws here on just that subject.

welcome to the new Amerika circa 2000. actually it has been coming for decades but just got into hi gear in 2000.

It is amazing how trash is evolving as resources dry up world wide. My suggestion to combat single stream services (usually a service one has to pay for) is to organize free pick by bundling 3-4 houses together and providing simple trash cans with lids..then pay them a bit for the material. Why pay them you ask? Buying material/possessions relieves small scrappers from the burden of providing licensing/insurance/etc. you are simply buying the 'possessions' from another citizen. trash picking is on its way out, its just a matter of time.