Former Broward rep urges lawmakers to get tough on metal theft

Former Rep. Chris Smith, the Fort Lauderdale Democrat running for the state Senate seat now held by Mandy Dawson, showed up on Tuesday to testify in favor of a GOP-sponsored bill that would increase regulation of metal scrap dealers in an effort to crack down on metal theft.

Smith, who is an attorney, said he has become a victim of copper theft, pointing out that he had thousands of dollars worth of copper stolen from air-conditioning units servicing a strip mall that he bought. Smith went out of his way to say that no one had paid his way to come to Tallahassee to testify in favor of the bill sponsored by Rep. Baxter Troutman. The bill was eventually approved by the Policy and Budget Council

"I am here as a citizen and a businessman,'' said Smith, who said copper theft was a "major problem in urban areas."