News Releases

Mobile Police Begin Enforcement of Alabama Department of Revenue Law Regulating Scrap Metals

Oct 1st, 2010

File Number: Auto Salvage Titles

On August 28, 2010, the Mobile Police Regulatory Compliance Detail began enforcement of a new law regulating the sale of vehicles to scrap yards. The previous law stated that any vehicle could be sold as scrap metal by a person in possession of the vehicle if they simply signed an affidavit stating they had permission to sell the vehicle. The result of this law allowed people to sell a stolen vehicle as scrap metal without showing proper ownership.

The new law, which was signed by Governor Riley on April 30, 2010, has limited the opportunity for thieves to steal vehicles and sell them to metal processors. This law states that any vehicle from 1975 until present time must have the seller of the vehicle listed on the title as the owner of the vehicle.

Mobile Police have seen an immediate effect from the enforcement of this law. In the month of August, Mobile Police received the reports of 119 vehicles thefts in our city limits and police jurisdiction. In September the number of stolen vehicles dropped to 64. Police believe this decline to be a direct result of the increased enforcement.

The Mobile Police Department will continue to monitor the effects of this law.

Officer Christopher Levy
Public Information Office
Office: 208-1926
Fax: 208-1758