Minnesota

Minnesota lawmakers look to crack down on catalytic converter thefts

Published

2 years ago

February 14, 2023

Minnesota lawmakers look to crack down on catalytic converter thefts

Sen. John Marty holds a catalytic converter throughout a current committee listening to. Screenshot through MN Senate Media

Proposals geared toward thwarting catalytic converter thieves are zooming towards ground votes on the Capitol after stalling in current periods.

Why it issues: Experiences of the stolen automotive half have exploded in recent times, creating expensive complications for automobile house owners throughout the state and nation.

Catalytic converter thefts have risen nationally by 1,215% since 2019, per the Nationwide Insurance coverage Crime Bureau.

Sure, however: Regulation enforcement officers say they lack the instruments to crack down on the observe, given how straightforward the components are to steal and promote.

Driving the thefts: The cylindrical automotive components, which make emissions much less dangerous, may be sawed off the undercarriage of a automobile in simply minutes.

Thieves can flip round and promote them for lots of of {dollars} apiece due to the high-value metals they comprise. Automobile house owners, in the meantime, are saddled with four-figure restore payments and lengthy waits for substitute components.
The telltale signal that the half has been stolen is a loud noise as soon as the automotive is began.

The large image: Minnesota has the third-highest variety of catalytic converter thefts in america, trailing simply California and Texas, Joe Boche, a particular agent with the Minnesota Commerce Fraud Bureau, instructed lawmakers at a current Senate listening to.

Greater than 2,300 had been stolen in St. Paul final yr, a virtually 30% improve from 2021.

What they’re doing: DFL lawmakers within the Home and Senate need to require catalytic converters to be labeled with the origin automobile’s VIN quantity as soon as faraway from the automotive.

The laws would additionally add legal penalties for possessing a indifferent catalytic converter that you could’t show is yours and reporting necessities for gross sales of the used components.

What they’re saying: Whereas native thieves may nonetheless offload the components for money in neighboring states, Sen. John Marty (DFL-Roseville) instructed Axios the aim is “making it so it is more durable to steal, more durable to promote, more durable to do every little thing else.”

“This nonetheless could not get rid of the issue, however I feel it will make an enormous dent in it,” Marty stated.

Between the traces: Jeremy Estenson, a lobbyist representing the Institute of Scrap Metallic Recycling Industries, instructed lawmakers at a listening to that whereas the “business is prepared to do their half,” including VIN numbers “doesn’t really feel as if its going to do as a lot to sluggish the precise crime charge.”

He stated the business does help extra sturdy record-keeping and harsher penalties.

The intrigue: Marty, who has been engaged on the problem for 3 years, famous that his invoice did not even get a single listening to in current periods.

“[They] would not inform me,” he stated of the rationale for the maintain up within the beforehand GOP-majority Senate. “Each time I would ask, I would get met with silence.”

What we’re watching: Variations in each chambers are on observe for ground votes as quickly as this month. Marty thinks the invoice may cross the Senate with unanimous help.

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Minnesota

Are winters in Minnesota getting colder?

Published

5 hours ago

January 22, 2025

Press Room

Are winters in Minnesota getting colder? – CBS Minnesota

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We are slowly climbing out of the frigid cold of this arctic outbreak. The cold served as a stinging reminder of what the bold north is capable of this time of year. But is it as cold as it used to be? Good Question. Jeff Wagner tallied how often we dip below zero.

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Minnesota

Over $600K worth of illicit cannabis found in Minnesota marijuana stores in 2024

Published

13 hours ago

January 21, 2025

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Over 0K worth of illicit cannabis found in Minnesota marijuana stores in 2024

As the delayed process to license legal cannabis dispensaries continues, Minnesota is trying to keep a lid on its growing illegal cannabis market.

According to a 2025 report by the Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management (OCM), the agency found more than 199 lbs of illicit cannabis flower at 134 sites from January to October of 2024. That’s around $607,000 worth of flower voluntarily destroyed by businesses upon inspection.

Four business entities were fined $10,000 each in civil penalties.

“Additional challenges encountered by the office related to the illicit cannabis market include: the practice of businesses ‘gifting’ cannabis along with other purchases, online cannabis sales and mobile cannabis delivery services, peddler stands selling product at family friendly events like the Minnesota State Fair, and other large public cannabis events,” the report read.

MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all.

A chart from a January 2025 report by the Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management shows June 2024 had the largest amount of cannabis destroyed upon inspection.

Courtesy of Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management

Minnesota legalized recreational use of marijuana in August 2023 but has struggled to get business licensing on track. Last November, a Ramsey County judge halted the state’s pre-approved licensing lottery after a group of applicants who were denied access sued Minnesota’s cannabis office.

The state agency still does not have a permanent director. Earlier this month interim head Charlene Briner left the role and was replaced by Eric Taubel, who had served as general counsel at the cannabis department for the past year.

The sale of recreational cannabis is not yet legal. That means “the illicit cannabis market continues to play a role in cannabis consumption in Minnesota,” according to the OCM.

The only option for recreational use now is home-grown marijuana.

“Given the illicit nature of illegal sales of cannabis, the size of such a market is not able to be determined with complete accuracy or consistency,” said the state agency in the 2025 report.

Last week, the window for verification of social equity applicants was opened and has a deadline for Jan. 30. A revamped timeline now puts the general licensing lottery between May and June, tentatively.

According to a survey by the OCM on cannabis use, 40 percent of Minnesotans consumed cannabis daily or almost daily. Participants also reported obtaining an average of 24 grams of cannabis within the past month, which is slightly higher than the national average and comparable Midwest states — “suggesting a robust market for cannabis-related businesses.”

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Minnesota

Minnesota weather: A cold day Tuesday with evening light snowflakes

Published

21 hours ago

January 21, 2025

Press Room

Minnesota weather: A cold day Tuesday with evening light snowflakes

Extreme Cold Warning

until TUE 12:00 PM CST, Jackson County, Lincoln County, Nobles County, Rock County, Cottonwood County, Murray County, Lyon County, Pipestone County, Big Stone County, Traverse County, West Marshall County, Lake Of The Woods County, Clay County, West Becker County, East Polk County, Mahnomen County, East Marshall County, Wilkin County, Kittson County, Norman County, Hubbard County, North Beltrami County, Red Lake County, Wadena County, East Otter Tail County, North Clearwater County, Pennington County, East Becker County, Grant County, West Otter Tail County, West Polk County, South Clearwater County, South Beltrami County, Roseau County, Carlton/South St. Louis Counties, North Itasca County, South Itasca County, Crow Wing County, Southern Cook/North Shore County, North St. Louis County, South Aitkin County, South Cass County, Northern Aitkin County, Northern Cook/Northern Lake Counties, Pine County, Southern Lake/North Shore, North Cass County, Central St. Louis County, Koochiching County, Wabasha County, Houston County, Olmsted County, Winona County, Mower County, Fillmore County, Dodge County, Washburn County, Burnett County, Douglas County, Buffalo County

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