(a) Hold Notices. – When a law enforcement officer has reasonable suspicion to believe that any item of nonferrous metal in the possession of a nonferrous metals purchaser has been stolen, the law enforcement officer may issue a hold notice to the nonferrous metals purchaser. The hold notice must be in writing, be delivered to the nonferrous metals purchaser, specifically identify those items of nonferrous metal that are believed to have been stolen and that are subject to the notice, and inform the nonferrous metals purchaser of the information contained in this section. Upon receipt of the notice, the nonferrous metals purchaser must not process or remove the items of nonferrous metal identified in the notice, or any portion thereof, from the secondary metal recycler’s fixed site for 15 calendar days after receipt of the notice unless released prior to the 15-day period by the law enforcement officer. A hold notice may be renewed for an additional 30 days by the law enforcement officer. A renewal must satisfy the same requirements as an initial hold notice in order to be valid.

(b) Retention of Nonferrous Metals. – Any secondary metals recycler owner convicted of a felonious violation of this Article, N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-71, 14-71.1, or 14-72 shall hold and retain nonferrous metals for seven days from the date of purchase before selling, dismantling, crushing, defacing, or in any manner altering or disposing of the regulated metals property. (2012-46, s. 28.)