The San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday, April 28, to draft an ordinance targeting catalytic converter theft, which a Riverside County advocate and law enforcement leaders said was widespread and costly.
The 5-0 vote directs county staff to return with proposed ordinance language, following discussion on whether possession of detached catalytic converters should be treated as a misdemeanor and how such cases could be enforced.
The proposal was brought forward by Daryl Terrell of Riverside County and District 4 Supervisor Steve Ding. Terrell told supervisors he began advocating for stronger laws in 2022 after a friend had a catalytic converter stolen while he was working multiple jobs…