I wonder if there have been any people who have been put in jail for trying to save a HID fixture from a scrapyard or trying to save a HID fixture from a LED retrofit? Has anyone ever been fined for trying to save a HID fixture from a LED retrofit as well?

I think the only way for you to go to prison or get fined is if you happen to steal a light from a scrapyard (with cameras) or maybe a city/utility yard.

As for retrofits, that would happen if you blatantly steal lights/gear in plain sight of the worker(s) without their permission or it happens to be caught on camera and they happen to notice that some stuff is missing.



If you're just asking for lights/gear, they won't fine you/put you in prison for that. There's no need for that unless you do the things I mention above.

It's also important to remind some, that although some Governments may have regulations about lighting to some degree, it is not illegal to buy, give, sell, own and use old lights privately.

If you cause property damage or commit theft to attain lights you risk getting in trouble with the law and it isn't recommended. A grey area here is if you find some that have been obviously abandoned or discarded curb-side or by a random dumpster it is proceed at your own risk.

A couple of tidbits regarding the "dumpster finds" , 1) Where I work , both dumpsters have cameras pointing at them , ANYONE caught removing ANYTHING from them will be prosecuted for theft by the company !  2) There are some municipalities that have laws banning trash picking and dumpster diving .

Good point on the dumpster laws. Definitely not worth it!

Yeah you might want to read up on local laws and ordinances before. Generally if it's on private property and/or it's behind a locked gate you also run the risk of getting charged with breaking and entering and trespassing if you get caught.

Asking workers on the street/public areas is generally ok, the worst they could do is say no. Going into the yard and asking unannounced, some places don't like that. For that you might want to figure out their phone number and give them a call first.

For scrapyards, they'll most likely allow you to pick up lights for scrap value as long as you're safe and don't get in the way of their operations.

In my country no one will fine you for picking up bulbs which are thrown away.However if you climb up the pole or enter the private property illegally you will go to jail or pay the fine,also no one will come to your home and say that you must dump bulbs in junk.

It's also important to remind some, that although some Governments may have regulations about lighting to some degree, it is not illegal to buy, give, sell, own and use old lights privately.

If you cause property damage or commit theft to attain lights you risk getting in trouble with the law and it isn't recommended. A grey area here is if you find some that have been obviously abandoned or discarded curb-side or by a random dumpster it is proceed at your own risk.

Does it mean that someone can enter my home and say give me these bulbs or you will go to jail ?And where it happened ?

A couple of tidbits regarding the "dumpster finds" , 1) Where I work , both dumpsters have cameras pointing at them , ANYONE caught removing ANYTHING from them will be prosecuted for theft by the company !  2) There are some municipalities that have laws banning trash picking and dumpster diving .

Even if they do have cameras, they first have to identify the offender from the video images. And having spent many years working in the CCTV department of my local bus company, I can say that this is far from trivial. You first have to find who they are, then find where they are, then persuade the police it's worth their time and effort prosecuting, because the cops already have enough to. do. Unless you're stupid enough to drive up in a car with an identifiable number plate, how are they going to  know who you are..?

This isn't to say I agree with stealing stuff, I don't, but just pointing a camera at something isn't going to achieve squat.

Even if they do have cameras, they first have to identify the offender from the video images. And having spent many years working in the CCTV department of my local bus company, I can say that this is far from trivial. You first have to find who they are, then find where they are, then persuade the police it's worth their time and effort prosecuting, because the cops already have enough to. do. Unless you're stupid enough to drive up in a car with an identifiable number plate, how are they going to  know who you are..?

This isn't to say I agree with stealing stuff, I don't, but just pointing a camera at something isn't going to achieve squat.

Yeah, I feel the cameras work more as a deterrent than anything for this case. Especially for the ones that were being pointed at a dumpster.