POUGHKEEPSIE – Before Dutchess County legislators vote on a proposal law to keep close tabs on the sale of scrap metal, they want more information.

Scrap metal dealers Thursday addressed the Public Safety Committee of the legislature with their recommendations for the local law.

Legislator Robert Rolison, a retired Poughkeepsie town cop, suggested doing more homework before adopting a local law.

“In other counties, there is a mandatory reporting requirement for the dealers to report their transactions to the local police, which actually gives police timely information on what’s coming in,” he said.

Dutchess lawmakers are considering the law because of a rise in the numbers of thefts of copper, aluminum and other scrap metals, which are then sold to scrap metal dealers.

The proposal as written now would require scrap metal processors to conduct an ID check, record identification of the parties, record a description of the property and hold all purchases for five days.