Senators Introduce Catalytic Converter Theft Invoice

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Laws geared toward decreasing the theft of catalytic converters was launched within the U.S. Senate this month.

The Stopping Auto Recycling Thefts (PART) Act, sponsored by Democratic Sens. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and Ron Wyden of Oregon, would require marking converters with a traceable identification quantity. It additionally would set up converter thefts as a prison offense.

The invoice is in response to nationwide thefts of the gadgets. The measure’s provisions are designed to help regulation enforcement.

As Klobuchar stated Feb. 2: “By making catalytic converter theft a prison offense and making certain every converter may be simply tracked, our bipartisan laws would supply regulation enforcement officers with the instruments and assets they should crack down on these crimes.” She is a member of the commerce committee on trucking coverage.

“This invoice will carry us one step nearer to fixing this downside by strengthening native regulation enforcement’s means to find stolen automobile elements and tackle these thefts as a prison offense,” added Wyden, chairman of the finance committee on tax coverage.

Particularly, the PART Act would require an identification quantity stamped onto the converter of recent autos. The invoice additionally would set up enforceability of legal guidelines across the theft of a catalytic converter.

To lend bipartisan assist to the invoice, co-sponsors embrace Republican Sens. Mike Braun of Indiana and J.D. Vance of Ohio.

“This bipartisan invoice will crack down on catalytic converter theft by making it a prison offense and requiring new autos to have a Car Identification Quantity stamped onto the converter to assist regulation enforcement observe stolen elements again to their house owners,” stated Braun, a member of the funds committee.

“I’m proud to introduce this invoice with my colleagues and supply our regulation enforcement with some much-needed help to get this downside beneath management,” Vance added.

The invoice’s committee consideration has but to be scheduled.

Rep. Jim Baird (R-Ind.) led the bipartisan introduction of companion laws within the U.S. Home. “Throughout the nation, thousands and thousands of People are confronted with pricey repairs to their autos due to skyrocketing charges of catalytic converter thefts,” stated Baird, a member of the agriculture committee. That invoice additionally has but to be debated in committee.

Excited to re-introduce my bipartisan invoice, the PART Act, in order that we are able to ship substantive options to regulation enforcement coping with catalytic converter thefts throughout the nation. pic.twitter.com/ss1D76moXy

— Congressman Jim Baird (@RepJimBaird) January 31, 2023

Stakeholders endorsing the laws embrace the American Truck Sellers, American Trucking Associations, the Automotive Recyclers Affiliation, the Nationwide Computerized Merchandising Affiliation, the Nationwide Car Sellers Affiliation and the Nationwide Insurance coverage Crime Bureau.

“Customers throughout the nation are falling sufferer to rising catalytic converter theft, leaving them with pricey repairs which can be typically worsened by provide chain woes,” stated NADA president and CEO Mike Stanton. “America’s franchised auto sellers urge Congress to cross this necessary laws.”

David Glawe, president and chief govt officer of the Nationwide Insurance coverage Crime Bureau, affirmed: “There’s little or no deterrent for thieves who commit these property crimes and, subsequently, it’s paramount for Congress to take motion and make stealing a catalytic converter a felony. Introducing stiffer penalties can deter would-be criminals from committing these acts within the first place.”