Prince, Wulterkens: Why is Texas stronger on catalytic-converter theft than Minnesota is?

The theft of a catalytic converter can occur to anybody who owns a automobile. It occurs in minutes. It occurs increasingly typically all through Minnesota.

Changing a stolen catalytic converter is vastly costly for the sufferer.

It means a fast buck for the perpetrator.

However the individuals who actually revenue from the theft of catalytic converters (from the automobiles of odd folks merely going about their enterprise and attempting to make ends meet on the finish of the month), the individuals who have essentially the most to realize by retaining Minnesota legal guidelines weak and ineffectual, are the homeowners of scrap metallic yards who can resell the uncommon metals inside catalytic converters for a lot of instances what they pay the thief.

Different states (like Texas) are taking motion:

1. Requiring sellers of catalytic converters to offer documentation exhibiting possession of the precise automobile the half got here from, indicating Title, Automobile Make and Mannequin, VIN (Automobile Identification Quantity)

2. Requiring patrons of catalytic converters to mark every one and take a thumbprint from the vendor, establishing a hyperlink between a converter and the one who claims a proper to promote it, and

3. Making the possession and/or tried sale of a catalytic converter that the particular person possessing it can’t show belongs to him a felony.

However in Minnesota, GOP leaders declare that such a troublesome regulation can be too burdensome on scrap metallic sellers.

It could imply scrap metallic sellers couldn’t purchase pickup vehicles filled with sawed-off catalytic converters and resell the uncommon metals they include with out themselves working afoul of the regulation.

Why does Texas give its residents stronger safety in opposition to the theft of catalytic converters than the state of Minnesota?

Why can’t State Sen. John Marty, the sponsor of a invoice to handle the difficulty successfully, even get a committee listening to to debate defending odd Minnesotans from catalytic converter theft?

Why do Minnesota lawmakers not see this because the precedence that we do?

Unusual individuals are hurting — and getting ripped off daily — and our Minnesota regulation stays weak and toothless. Like every one in all us, each Minnesota lawmaker is aware of the scourge and monetary influence of this crime on each group. Final week, one St. Paul nonprofit needed to cancel very important meals deliveries to these in want because of dropping catalytic converters on two automobiles.

Now’s the time to place a cease to catalytic converter theft by giving police a regulation to implement, one which’s powerful on thieves — and on those that pay them.

Jane Prince is a member of the St. Paul Metropolis Council. Jean Wulterkens is a block membership chief within the Highwood neighborhood of St. Paul.