Leaders in Washington want to keep criminals from stealing your car’s catalytic converter.
Starting April 1, a new bill will strengthen protections and fine people who don’t play by the rules.
Under House Bill 2153 :
- Vehicle dealers will be required to mark catalytic converters so that when law enforcement comes across a stolen one, they can track it back to the source.
- Purchasers will be required to record who they purchase catalytic converters from and the vehicle identification number (VIN) from which it was removed. These records must be retained for three years.
- Purchasers must be licensed, regulated, and inspected. They will be fined at least $1,000 per violation.
- The licensing process will include a new $500 fee, which goes directly to the Washington State Patrol to fund inspections and enforcement.
- Anyone who knowingly and unlawfully traffics detached catalytic converters will face up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
What is a catalytic converter & why are they stolen?
Currently, when a catalytic converter is detached from a vehicle, police have no reliable way to trace it back to a specific vehicle…