SUMMARY
Senate Bill 55 combats catalytic converter theft by
requiring car dealers to apply the vehicle identification number (VIN) to the catalytic converter of each vehicle listed for sale.
THE PROBLEM
There a re significant legal challenges to arresting and prosecuting catalytic converter thieves under current
California law. Most major parts of vehicles sold in the United States are identified by an imprinted serial number relating to the unique Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN); these parts include the engine block, transmission, frame, doors, and firewall. These identification markings allow law enforcem ent to establish that parts are stolen, even if the stolen vehicle has already been fully broken down. However, this identification pr ocess does not
currently apply to catalytic converters. As a result, law enforcement may catch individuals in possession of
dozens, or even hundreds, of suspect catalytic converters --but be unable to prove that any one of them was stolen.
SOLUTION
Senate Bill 55 will require car dealers to mark the
catalytic converters of vehicles up for sale. The
application of a VIN to a catalytic converter is usually done by etching, a process that is both easy and
inexpensive. Requiring the marking of catalytic
converters would be a tremendous help to law
enforcement in their attempts to bring this significant theft issue under control.
SUPPORT
Los Angeles County District Attorney (Sponsor)
Northern CA Motor Club Insurance Company
Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety
California District Attorneys Association
Crime Victims Alliance
Orange County Sheriff's Department
City of Alameda
Burbank Police Department
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Yajaira Lechuga
916-651-4034
[email protected]
SB 55: Preventing Catalytic Converter Theft
Principal Coauthor: Sen. Portantino
Coauthors: Sen. Allen, Sen. Dodd, Sen. Jones, Sen. Stern, Asm. Santiago Asm. Schiavo, Asm. Connolly
Attachment 1