KRS 433.920: Duties of purchasers of metal and objects containing metal -- Retention of
Where this section sits in the code
- KRS Chapter 433
records -- Exclusions.
(1) Every recycler, dealer in junk or metals, dealer in secondhand articles, vendor of
bottles or rags, collector of or dealer in articles found in ashes, garbage, or other
refuse, whether such dealers, collectors, or vendors have established places of
business or operate a business of an itinerant nature, shall, with regard to any
catalytic converter, metal beverage container that is capable of holdi ng more than
two (2) liters of beverage and is marketed as returnable, railroad rails, nonferrous
metal or an alloy thereof, or an object containing nonferrous metal or an alloy
thereof:
(a) Enter a report into the LeadsOnline database for all metals trans actions within
two (2) days of the transaction and keep a register that contains:
1. A photocopy of a valid operator's license, personal identification card,
or other government -issued identification card or document which
contains the name, photograph, an d signature of the seller. If the
purchaser has a copy of the seller's valid photo identification on file, it
shall not be necessary for the purchaser to make another copy of the
identification document for each purchase if the purchaser references the
number on the identification document in the register at the time of each
purchase;
2. The home address and telephone number of the seller, if the
identification in subparagraph 1. of this paragraph does not contain that
information;
3. If a motor vehicle is used to transport the purchased catalytic converter,
metal beverage container that is capable of holding more than two (2)
liters of beverage and is marketed as returnable, railroad rail, nonferrous
metal or an alloy thereof, or object containing nonferro us metal or an
alloy thereof, to the place of purchase, the color, make, model, state, and
license number of the motor vehicle, which shall be provided by the
seller of the items;
4. A photograph of a motor vehicle used in subparagraph 3. of this
paragraph that contains the state and license number of the motor
vehicle;
5. The time and date of the transaction;
6. A description in the usage of the trade of the kind and weight of the
railroad rail, nonferrous metal or an alloy thereof, or object containing
the nonferrous metal or an alloy thereof purchased;
7. A photograph of the property described in subparagraph 6. of this
paragraph;
8. The amount paid for the material and the unit basis of the purchase, such
as by ounce or pound, etc.; and
9. For the purchase of a catalytic converter, a photocopy of:
a. The seller's identification that meets the minimum age requirement
in paragraph (c) of this subsection;
b. The receipt for the replacement catalytic converter; and
c. The title or registration f or the vehicle from which the catalytic
converter was removed in the name of the seller;
(b) Not purchase any metal that has been smelted, burned, or melted unless, in
addition to the other requirements of this subsection, the seller provides the
following, and the purchaser maintains a copy thereof:
1. A signed certificate of ownership stating that he or she is the owner of
the metal and is entitled to sell it; or
2. A signed certificate from the owner of the metal stating that he or she is
the owner of th e metal, and that the person selling the metal is
authorized to sell the metal on behalf of the owner;
(c) Not purchase any catalytic converter, metal beverage container that is capable
of holding more than two (2) liters of beverage and is marketed as ret urnable,
railroad rail, nonferrous metal or an alloy thereof, or an object containing
nonferrous metal or an alloy thereof from a person who:
1. Is less than eighteen (18) years of age;
2. Is unable or refuses to provide the identification and information
required in paragraph (a) of this subsection; or
3. Is attempting to conduct a retail sale outside the hours of 7:00 a.m. to
7:00 p.m.;
(d) Retain the information required by this section for a period of two (2) years,
after which time, the information may be retained, destroyed in a manner that
protects the identity of the owner of the property and the seller of the
property, or transferred to a law enforcement agency specified in paragraph
(g) of this subsection;
(e) If the purchaser ceases business, tran sfer all records and information required
by this section to a law enforcement agency specified in paragraph (g) of this
subsection;
(f) Permit any peace officer or inspector from the commission to inspect the
register, and if the peace officer or commissi on inspector deems it necessary
to locate specific stolen property, may inspect the catalytic converter, metal
beverage and container that is capable of holding more than two (2) liters of
beverage is marketed as returnable, railroad rail, nonferrous metal or an alloy
thereof, or object containing nonferrous metal or an alloy thereof received
during business hours with or without a subpoena;
(g) Upon written request of the sheriff, the chief of police, or the Kentucky State
Police, as appropriate, make a report containing the information required to be
retained in the register under paragraph (a) of this subsection in person, in
digital format, in writing, or by electronic means within twenty -four (24)
hours of the transaction to:
1. The sheriff of the count y in which the purchase was made and the
sheriff of the county in which the business is located; and
2. When the purchase was made in a city, county, urban -county, charter
county, consolidated local government, or unified local government, to
the police de partment of the city, county, urban -county, charter county,
consolidated local government, or unified local government in which the
purchase is made and the police department of the city, county, urban -
county, charter county, consolidated local government, or unified local
government in which the business is located, unless there is no police
department in that jurisdiction;
(h) Comply with a written request pursuant to paragraph (g) of this subsection
until a written notice to cease sending the reports req uired by paragraph (g) of
this subsection is received by the purchaser. A request may relate to:
1. All records of purchases;
2. Records of a specific class of metals or items purchased;
3. Records of purchases during a specific period of time; or
4. Records of a specific purchase or purchases; and
(i) Retain the property in its original form or a photograph or digital image of the
property for a period of three (3) business days from the date of purchase
unless notified by a peace officer having reasonable cause to believe that the
property may be stolen property, in which case, the property may be seized as
evidence by the peace officer or, if not seized, shall be retained for an
additional thirty (30) days unless earlier notified by a peace officer that t he
property may be sold.
(2) A sheriff or police department receiving records pursuant to this section shall retain
the records for two (2) years, after which time, it may either retain or destroy the
records in a manner that protects the identity of the o wner of the property, the seller
of the property, and the purchaser of the property.
(3) Any record required to be made or reported pursuant to this section may be kept
and reported in hard copy or digital or in electronic format.
(4) This section shall not apply to the purchase, sale, or transfer of:
(a) A motor vehicle, aircraft, or other item that is licensed by the state or federal
government pursuant to a legitimate transfer of title or issuance of a junk title;
(b) A firearm, part of a firearm, firearm accessory, ammunition, or ammunition
component;
(c) A knife, knife parts, accessory or sheath for a knife, or knifemaking products;
(d) A nonreturnable used beverage container or food container;
(e) Jewelry, household goods containing metal, garden tools, and similar
household items, except for a catalyt ic converter or metal beverage container
that is capable of holding more than two (2) liters of liquid and which is
marketed as returnable, which takes place at a flea market or yard sale;
(f) A single transaction involving a purchase price of ten dollars ($10) or less, but
more than two (2) transactions with the same person involving a purchase
price of ten dollars ($10) or less in one (1) seven (7) day period shall be
reportable transactions;
(g) Material disposed of as trash or refuse that contains or ma y contain a catalytic
converter, metal beverage container that is capable of holding more than two
(2) liters of beverage and is marketed as returnable, railroad rail, nonferrous
metals or an alloy thereof, or an object that contains or may contain a railr oad
rail or nonferrous metals or an alloy thereof, which is collected by a municipal
waste department or by a licensed waste hauler and no payment is made to the
person from whom the material is collected by the person or agency collecting
the material;
(h) A catalytic converter, metal beverage container that is capable of holding
more than two (2) liters of beverage and marketed as returnable, railroad rail,
nonferrous metal or alloy thereof, or an object containing railroad rail,
nonferrous metal, or an a lloy thereof from a person who has maintained a
record pursuant to this section to a person who is to further recycle the metal
or object containing the metal;
(i) A catalytic converter, metal beverage container that is capable of holding
more than two (2) liters of beverage and marketed as returnable, railroad rail,
nonferrous metal or an alloy thereof, or object containing nonferrous metal or
an alloy thereof under a written contract with an organization, corporation, or
association registered with the Co mmonwealth as a charitable, philanthropic,
religious, fraternal, civic, patriotic, social, or school sponsored organization;
(j) A purchase, pursuant to a written contract, from a manufacturing, industrial or
other commercial vendor that generates catalyti c converters, metal beverage
containers capable of holding more than two (2) liters of beverage and which
are marketed as returnable, railroad rail, nonferrous metal or an alloy thereof,
or object containing nonferrous metal in the ordinary course of business;
(k) An item purchased by, pawned to, or sold by a pawnbroker licensed pursuant
to KRS Chapter 226, engaging in the business authorized by that chapter; or
(l) Any ferrous metal item, except for a catalytic converter, metal beverage
container that is capable of holding more than two (2) liters of beverage and is
marked as returnable, or railroad rails.
Collected 2026-09-05T20:59:48Z. Source file · JSON