It just got harder in California to steal and then sell catalytic converters

Gov. Gavin Newsom introduced Sunday that he signed laws to crack down on rampant car catalytic converter theft by making it unlawful for recyclers to purchase the precious automotive half from anybody aside from the authorized proprietor or a licensed supplier.

Lawmakers this 12 months launched a collection of payments to handle an alarming improve in brazen thefts of catalytic converters, the anti-pollution units in vehicles that comprise beneficial metals resembling rhodium, platinum and palladium. The usually untraceable elements are simple to noticed off from a car, making them a horny goal for these hoping to make a fast buck at a scrap yard.

The 2 new legal guidelines — Senate Invoice 1087, by state Sen. Lena Gonzalez (D-Lengthy Seashore), and Meeting Invoice 1740, by Meeting member Al Muratsuchi (D-Rolling Hills Estates) — will improve penalties for patrons who fail to certify {that a} catalytic converter wasn’t stolen.

The legal guidelines ought to make it harder for thieves to discover a market for the elements. Scrap metallic recyclers and junk sellers should doc how they’re shopping for catalytic converters and from whom, as a manner to make sure they’re doing enterprise solely with homeowners and certified sellers.

“We’re going to get to the basis trigger, not less than one of many root causes, on this crime. And that’s these brokers and people middlemen, who pay prime greenback for stolen elements. It’s going to now be unlawful in California to purchase catalytic converters from anybody aside from licensed auto dismantlers or sellers,” Newsom stated in a video statement. “You are taking away the marketplace for stolen items, you may assist reduce down on stealing.”

States throughout the nation have launched new insurance policies to fight the skyrocketing reputation of catalytic converter theft, worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic when automotive utilization decreased and the worth of sure metals elevated.

The Nationwide Insurance coverage Crime Bureau reported a rise from 1,298 catalytic converter thefts in 2018 to 14,433 in 2020. California reported 18,026 catalytic converter thefts in 2021, based on the background verify firm BeenVerified.

A stolen catalytic converter can generate $25 to $500, based on a 2021 report by the Congressional Analysis Service, and will price an proprietor $3,000 to exchange the half. Among the many most focused car varieties and fashions are the Ford F-Collection, Honda Accords and Toyota Priuses.

The brand new legal guidelines would require a traceable technique of fee for the catalytic converters, and extra stringent file conserving of purchases, together with detailed info on the companies promoting the elements and the autos that they had been taken from.