Public Law 28-18

 

I MINA'BENTE OCHO NA LIHESLATURAN GUĹHAN

2005 (FIRST) Regular Session

 

Bill No. 33 (EC)

As amended on the Floor.

 

Introduced by:                                                                            J. M.S. Brown

                                                                        Mark Forbes

                                                                                                L. F. Kasperbauer                     

                                                                                                F. B. Aguon, Jr.

                                                                                                Edward J.B. Calvo

                                                                                                B. J.F. Cruz

                                                                                                Mike Cruz

                                                                                                R. Klitzkie

                                                                                                L. A. Leon Guerrero

                                                                                                J. A. Lujan

                                                                                                A. B. Palacios

                                                                                                R. J. Respicio

                                                                                                Ray Tenorio

                                                                                                A. R. Unpingco

                                                                                                J. T. Won Pat

 

AN ACT TO AMEND §43.50, CHAPTER 43 OF TITLE 9 GUAM CODE ANNOTATED, TO REQUIRE PERSONS, ENTITIES OR CORPORATIONS BUYING COPPER WIRE TO MAINTAIN A LOG BOOK OF ALL PURCHASES MADE FROM ON-ISLAND SOURCES AND TO RETAIN ALL COPPER WIRE PURCHASED FOR A PERIOD OF SEVEN (7) DAYS BEFORE ALTERING, SELLING, MELTING, DESTROYING, OR OTHERWISE DISPOSING OF THE COPPER WIRE.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF GUAM:

Section 1.  Legislative Findings.  I Mina’Bente Ocho Na Liheslaturan Guĺhan finds that the theft of copper wire has reached epidemic levels.  Thieves have brazenly stolen copper wire from both public and private entities, and buyers of copper wire are currently under no requirement to identify the sellers of the stolen wire.  A legal requirement that buyers of copper wire keep a record of their transactions will deter theft.

Section 2.           §43.50, Chapter 43 of Title 9 of the Guam Code Annotated is hereby amended to read:

“(f)        Any person, corporation or entity who, as a substantial part of a business, buys and sells used items, including copper wire, and including any contractor who buys copper wire in the course of conducting his or her business, shall retain, for a minimum of one (1) year after the last entry, a log book of all purchases of copper wire from on-island sources, indicating the nature of the items bought, the name and address of the seller, the price paid, and the date of purchase, and shall obtain and maintain a copy of each seller’s identification documents, including, but not limited to, a government driver’s license, government identification card or passport, and a copy of the registration certificate of the vehicles used to transport the copper wire.  The above records shall be made available to law enforcement officers upon request.

(g)     Any person, corporation or entity who, as a substantial part of a business, buys and sells used items, including copper wire, and including any contractor who buys copper wire in the course of conducting his or her business, who purchases said wire from persons who do not have a business license for buying or selling copper wire, shall keep such wire for a period of seven (7) days before altering, selling, melting, destroying, or otherwise disposing of copper wire purchased on Guam.

(h)     Any knowing violation of Subsections (c), (d) or (e) of §43.50 of Chapter 43 of Title 9 GCA shall be a misdemeanor upon the first conviction of any such violation, and shall be a felony of the third degree for any subsequent offense.  Any violation of Subsections (f) or (g) shall be a felony of the third degree.  A third conviction of any such violation shall require revocation of the offender’s business license.”

Section 3.           Severability.  If any provisions of this Act or its application to any person or circumstance is found to be invalid or contrary to law, such invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of this Act which can be given effect without the invalid provisions or applications, and to this end the provisions of this Act are severable.