Governor Gavin Newsom signed legislation on Sunday that could make it more difficult for thieves to find a marketplace for stolen catalytic converters.
Auto recyclers and dealers will now have to document how they buy catalytic converters to make sure they’re not stolen.
This law comes as this type of theft continues to rise, officials said.
“We’re going to get to the root cause, at least one of the root causes, in this crime,” Newsom said in a video statement. “And that’s those brokers and those middlemen, who pay top dollar for stolen parts. It will now be illegal in California to buy catalytic converters from anyone other than licensed auto dismantlers or dealers. You take away the market for stolen goods, you can help cut down on stealing.”
About 14,000 catalytic converters were reported stolen in 2020, up from 1,298 in 2018, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau. California reported 18,026 thefts in 2021, according to BeenVerified, a background check company.
The two new laws by Sen. Lena Gonzalez (D-Long Beach) and Al Muratsuchi (D-Rolling Hills) increase penalties for buyers who fail to certify that a catalytic converter wasn’t stolen. The new laws also require a traceable method of payment. ■