APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY
CITY ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
OAKLAND CITY COUNCIL
RESOLUTION NO. _______________ C.M.S.
INTRODUCED BY COUNCIL PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE SHENG THAO AND
COUNCIL PRESIDENT NIKKI FORTUNATO BAS
RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF CALIFORNIA STATE ASSEMBLY BILL 1740 (MURATSUCHI), WHICH WOULD ALLOW CORE RECYCLERS
TO PURCHASE OR RECEIVE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS ONLY
FROM COMMERCIAL ENTERPRISES OR OWNERS OF THE VEHICLE
TO WHICH THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER BELONGED, THEREFORE
DISCOURAGING THE THEFT OF CATALYTIC CONVERTERS
WHEREAS, the State of California requires catalytic converters on most motor vehicles, including almost all motor vehicles operated by private community members; and
WHEREAS, semi-precious metals such as palladi um are embedded in catalytic converters; and
WHEREAS, these semi-precious metals have a potent recycle value; and
WHEREAS, the recycle value of semi-precious metals such as palladium make catalytic converters a target for theft, especially on older model vehicles; and
WHEREAS, catalytic converter theft can cost the vehicle owner thousands of dollars to replace the catalytic converter to be compliant with California state law; and
WHEREAS, because catalytic converters are frequently stolen from older model vehicles, the cost to replace the catalytic converter can frequently result in the vehicle being “totaled”; and
WHEREAS, catalytic converter theft causing an older vehicle to be “totaled” can place an enormous burden on the vehicle owner, as the “ totaled” vehicle may have provided vital transportation to school, work, or other essential activities; and
WHEREAS, the number of catalytic converter thefts, already a nuisance, has greatly increased since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020; and
WHEREAS, California state law currently requires core recyclers, defined as a person or business that buys individual catalytic converters, transmissions, or other parts previously removed from a vehicle, to maintain a written record of specifie d information regarding the transaction,
2 including the type and quantity, amount paid for the catalytic converte r, identification number, if any, and vehicle identification number for at least two years; and
WHEREAS, it is a crime in the State of California for a core recycler to not follow the rules mentioned above; and
WHEREAS, the above-mentioned law represents an effort by the State of California to track catalytic converter sales to deter catalytic converter thefts by encouraging core recycle rs to ensure they are purchasing catalytic converters that have not been stolen; and
WHEREAS, despite current California state law, catalytic converter theft is still a nuisance; and
WHEREAS, in an effort to further combat catalytic converter theft, Cali fornia State Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi has introduced Assembly Bill 1740, which would require core recycles to maintain a written record of the year, make, and model of the vehicle from which a catalytic converter they purchased was removed and prohibit a core recycler from entering into a transaction to purchase or receive a catalytic converte r from any person that is not a commercial enterprise or owner of the vehicle from which the catalytic converter was removed; and
WHEREAS, AB 1740 would further discourage core recyclers from purchasing stolen catalytic converters by ensuring they purchase these converts from either a commercial enterprise or the vehicles owner; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED: That the Oakland City Council hereby recognizes that AB 1740 (Muratsuchi) may deter further catalytic converter theft; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED: That the Oakland City Council hereby endorses AB 1740 (Muratsuchi) and urges the California State Legislature and Governor Gavin Newsom t o support its enactment into law.
IN COUNCIL, OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA,
PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:
AYES - FIFE, GALLO, KALB, KAPLAN, REID, TAYLOR, THAO AND PRESIDENT FORTUNATO BAS NOES –
ABSENT –
ABSTENTION –
ATTEST:
ASHA REED
City Clerk and Clerk of the Council of the City of
Oakland, California