(a) A person who violates any provision of this chapter, or who fails to perform a duty required of him under this chapter, commits an offense. A person is guilty of a separate offense for each item of regulated metal property involved in a violation of this chapter. An offense under this chapter is punishable by a fine not to exceed $500.
(b) It is a defense to prosecution under this chapter that the regulated metal property involved:
(1) was purchased from a charitable, philanthropic, religious, fraternal, civic, patriotic, social, or school-sponsored organization or association or from any organization that is exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended;
(2) was purchased from any public officer acting in an official capacity as a trustee in bankruptcy, executor, administrator, or receiver; from any public official acting under judicial process or authority; or from a sale on the execution, or by virtue, of any process issued by a court;
(3) consists of aluminum food or beverage containers, used food or beverage containers, or similar food or beverage containers for the purpose of recycling, other than beer or beverage kegs; or
(4) was purchased from a manufacturing, industrial, or other commercial vendor that generates or sells regulated metal property in the ordinary course of its business.
(c) The culpable mental state required for the commission of an offense under this chapter is governed by Section 1-5.1 of this code. (Ord. Nos. 20260; 22958; 26537; 27202; 27249)