Governor Gavin Newsom of California signed into effect a law that will impose strict penalties on people who illegally buy and sell catalytic converters.
The anti-pollution devices are a frequent target for saw-and-grab thieves, with more than 18,026 reported stolen in California alone in 2021. The Los Angeles Times reported that the new rules originated with a pair of bills, one in the California State Senate and one in the state’s Assembly. The legislation attaches a $1000 fine to a first conviction and $2000 for a second.
The buyers – generally scrap-metal recyclers or dealers – will also have to keep and show records of where they’re getting catalytic converters. The law would allow the additional penalty of a temporary suspension from operating as a recycler.
