{"id":2065795,"date":"2023-10-13T01:49:04","date_gmt":"2023-10-13T05:49:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/new-california-law-makes-possessing-9-or-more-catalytic-converters-illegal\/"},"modified":"2023-10-13T01:54:11","modified_gmt":"2023-10-13T05:54:11","slug":"new-california-law-makes-possessing-9-or-more-catalytic-converters-illegal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/new-california-law-makes-possessing-9-or-more-catalytic-converters-illegal\/","title":{"rendered":"California outlaws possession of 9+ catalytic converters."},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">14<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fnew-california-law-makes-possessing-9-or-more-catalytic-converters-illegal%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2065795&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><blockquote>\n<h2>California Takes Action\u200d to\u2063 Combat Catalytic Converter Theft<\/h2>\n<p>California \u2063lawmakers are tackling the \u200crampant\u200b issue of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/newsom-announces-267-million-in-grants-to-stop-retail-theft\/\" title=\"Newsom allocates 7M grants to combat retail theft.\">catalytic converter theft<\/a> with \u2062new legislation that\u2064 aims \u2062to limit the \u2063number \u200cof converters one can possess. Assembly Bill 641, authored\u200d by\u200c Assemblyman\u200c Vince Fong, will require individuals\u2063 in \u2062possession of nine or more catalytic converters to be\u2062 licensed automobile dismantlers.\u200c This \u2062law, effective January 1, aims to \u2062crack down on unlicensed individuals profiting \u200bfrom converter theft.<\/p>\n<p>Under the current law, \u200bthose caught without a \u2064proper business permit or license face \u200bmisdemeanor fines. However, the new law\u2063 imposes \u200bstricter \u2062penalties, including a maximum $100 infraction for unlicensed individuals\u2064 in possession of nine or more converters.<\/p>\n<h3>Related Stories<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/oakland-police-ask-residents-not-to-confront-auto-break-in-thieves-5505886?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><strong>Oakland Police Ask Residents \u2064Not to Confront Auto Break-In Thieves<\/strong><\/a>  &#8211; 10\/7\/2023<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/catalytic-converter-conundrum-continues-across-the-us-5188279?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><strong>Catalytic Converter Conundrum Continues Across the \u200dUS<\/strong><\/a>  &#8211; 4\/12\/2023<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Assemblyman\u2062 Fong emphasized that this legislation\u200d will particularly <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/new-california-law-makes-possessing-9-or-more-catalytic-converters-illegal\/\" title=\"California outlaws possession of 9+ catalytic converters.\">benefit low-income families\u2062 struggling<\/a> with rising costs. By closing loopholes and empowering law enforcement, AB 641 aims to curb converter theft and unlicensed dismantling.<\/p>\n<p>Catalytic converters, essential for\u200d reducing\u200d vehicle \u200demissions, contain valuable metals like palladium\u200d and rhodium, making them attractive to thieves. Recent data shows that converters can be sold for anywhere between \u200d$25 and $500, depending on the \u2063type and vehicle they were \u200cstolen from.<\/p>\n<div class=\"post-figure\">\n<figure style=\"width:323px\" class=\"alignleft\"><figcaption>Three\u200b juveniles are in custody \u2062and nearly a dozen \u2062catalytic converters have been recovered following \u2063a short pursuit\u2064 that ended\u200b in a \u200ccrash \u2064in Ventura County, Calif., \u2063on Nov. 23, 2021. (Courtesy of the Ventura County Police)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>The National Insurance Crime Bureau reports a staggering 4,000 percent increase in\u2062 converter thefts from 2018 to 2022, with\u2062 over 60,000 insurance claims\u200d filed nationwide in 2022. California \u200calone accounted for nearly\u2062 40 percent \u200dof all thefts. The California District\u2063 Attorneys \u200bAssociation supports \u200cAB 641,\u200d stating that it will hold thieves accountable, even if the stolen\u200b converters\u200c cannot be traced back to their original owners.<\/p>\n<p>Additional legislation implemented last year aimed \u200bto deter converter thefts\u2062 by \u2063criminalizing the\u2063 purchase of used converters from unauthorized sellers and\u200c requiring\u2064 recyclers to \u2063track ownership through VIN numbers.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> What legislative measures have been implemented in California to\u200c address the issue of catalytic converter theft, and what further actions are needed to\u2063 effectively combat this criminal activity<\/h2>\n<p><span>  \u200c =usatoday&#8221;>Oakland\u200d \u2063\u2064Police Ask Residents Not to Confront Auto Break-In Thieves\u200b<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/california-railroads-seek-police-powers-over-homelessness-5505796?ex_cid=\">California\u200c Railroads Seek Police Powers Over\u200b Homelessness<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>The Rise of Catalytic\u2064 Converter Theft<\/h3>\n<p>Catalytic converter\u200b theft has become\u200c a major problem in California and across the United States. These devices, which help\u200d reduce harmful emissions from vehicles, contain valuable metals such as platinum, palladium, and rhodium. As a result,\u2064 they \u2063have\u2064 become a lucrative target\u2064 for \u2064criminals looking to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/how-more-hsas-could-help-dig-us-out-of-the-hole-of-disastrous-medicaid-expansion\/\" title=\"How More HSAs Could Help Dig Us Out Of The Hole Of Disastrous Medicaid Expansion\">make quick money<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The rise in\u2062 converter theft is \u2063largely attributed \u2063to\u200b the high\u2063\u2064 market value of the metals \u2063found in them. The increased demand for these metals from industries such as automotive and electronics has driven up \u200btheir prices,\u2062 making catalytic converters a valuable commodity.<\/p>\n<p>According to \u200cdata from\u200c the National Insurance\u200d Crime Bureau (NICB), catalytic converter thefts in the United States \u200chave skyrocketed in recent years. Between 2018 and 2020, there was a\u2063 staggering 204% increase in \u200creported thefts.<\/p>\n<h3>Impact on Vehicle Owners<\/h3>\n<p>The theft of \u2064catalytic converters not only affects individuals financially but can also disrupt their daily lives. When\u200d a converter is\u2064 stolen, the vehicle becomes inoperable until a replacement is installed, which \u2064can be costly and time-consuming. In addition, insurance claims for stolen converters\u2064 often lead \u2063to higher premiums for vehicle owners.<\/p>\n<p>Furthermore, the environmental impact of converter theft should not be overlooked. Without \u200bfunctioning catalytic converters, vehicles emit higher levels of harmful pollutants, contributing \u200cto air pollution\u200d and \u200dadversely affecting public \u2062health.<\/p>\n<h3>Addressing the Issue through\u200d Legislation<\/h3>\n<p>The passing of Assembly Bill\u200b 641 in California demonstrates the state&#8217;s commitment to combating catalytic converter theft. By requiring individuals in possession of nine or more converters to be licensed automobile dismantlers, the law \u200baims to deter unlicensed individuals from engaging in converter theft \u200cand selling the stolen converters for profit.<\/p>\n<p>The introduction of stricter penalties, including\u200c the $100 infraction for unlicensed individuals with multiple converters,\u2062 serves\u2064 as a \u2064deterrent \u2062and punishment for \u2064those involved in this criminal activity.\u2063 It sends a clear message that converter \u2062theft will not be tolerated, and \u2064those caught breaking the law will face\u200d consequences.<\/p>\n<p>This legislation is an \u200bimportant step forward in \u200baddressing the\u2062 issue, but more action is needed\u2064 at both the state and federal levels. \u200cIncreased \u2063enforcement efforts, public awareness campaigns, \u2062and\u200c initiatives to secure and mark catalytic converters can all contribute to reducing theft rates and\u2064 protecting vehicle owners.<\/p>\n<h3>Conclusion<\/h3>\n<p>The rampant \u2064theft of catalytic converters poses a significant \u2063challenge for\u200c vehicle owners in California and beyond. The passing of Assembly Bill 641 demonstrates the state&#8217;s recognition of the severity of the \u200dissue and its determination \u2064to \u2064tackle it head-on. By implementing stricter\u2062 penalties and licensing requirements, the law \u200baims to discourage unlicensed individuals \u2064from participating in converter theft. \u2064However, further efforts are necessary to effectively curb this criminal activity and safeguard \u200bvehicle owners from financial \u200dand environmental consequences.<\/p>\n<p>Through a combination of legislative\u200b measures, law enforcement action, and \u200cpublic awareness,\u2063 California can lead the \u2064way in combatting catalytic converter theft and protecting its residents.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>California lawmakers are combatting the catalytic converter theft surge with new legislation. Assembly Bill 641, effective from Jan. 1, restricts individuals from possessing nine or more converters. Authored by Assemblyman Vince Fong (R-Bakersfield), this law aims to curb the problem and protect residents from further thefts.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1349,"featured_media":2065796,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[543],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2065795","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-epoch-times"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2065795","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1349"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2065795"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2065795\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2065796"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2065795"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2065795"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2065795"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}