Yudu - March/April 2018

SnapShot By Caryn Smith

As Seen on Social Media

ouse Bill 52 would create a system for salvage yards and other auto recyclers to verify with the state Motor Vehicle Division that the vehicle they’re purchasing isn’t stolen. The state would also maintain a database of transactions to help law enforcement.

NOTE: The auto recyclers in New Mex- ico continue to be involved in helping shape the laws of their state. “Auto theft is a huge problem in NM (Albuquerque is ranked #1 in the U.S.),” says Sandy Blalock, Recycling Industry Advocacy. “Our industry felt we should do our part in supporting law enforcement’s efforts by assuring that we are reporting our ve- hicles into the state’s database effi ciently and promptly.

“The only real change for the licensed auto recyclers in NM was the requirement to report within 48 business hours and submit a copy of the driver’s license if the vehicles are purchased from individuals and not at auction. These reporting re- quirements are aligned with the informa- tion that is sent to NMVTIS and requires anyone acquiring vehicles to report the same information. Also we were already reporting under regulations so this really just served to codify those rules in statute.” While these are not big changes, this type of news keeps professional automo- tive recyclers in the forefront of law en- forcement and news outlets in a positive way, cultivating a good industry image.

SANTA FE — The state House on Thursday voted overwhelmingly in favor of a bill aimed at combating auto theft in New Mexico. House Bill 52 would create a system for salvage yards and other auto recyclers to verify with the state Motor Vehicle Division that the vehi- cle they’re purchasing isn’t stolen. The state would also maintain a database of transactions to help law enforcement. The legislation is jointly sponsored by Rep. Monica Youngblood, R-Albuquerque; Sen. Howie Morales, D-Silver City; and Rep. Patricio Ruiloba, D-Albuquerque.

The proposal comes after the Albuquerque area posted the highest per capita rate of auto thefts in the country for 2016, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau.

#automotiverecyclingsnapshot

Photos Tell the Story! To have your photo in SnapShot, send it to ARAEditor@comcast.net as a high resolution JPG or PDF

format, along with a description or identifi cation of the people included. Or, you can post it on Facebook with the hashtag #automotiverecyclingsnapshot for consideration. Photos will be published at the discre- tion of the editor.

March-April 2018 • AUTOMOTIVE RECYCLING