Co-Sponsorship Memo Details

Theft of catalytic converters continues to rise across America. As the COVID-19 pandemic created stress on the mining of metals across the globe, the price for the metals inside of catalytic converters has skyrocketed. This has led to a spike in catalytic converter theft with the parts being stolen from underneath parked cars to be sold illegally as scrap. These thefts sometimes end in violence and tragedy.
 
My legislation will expand current regulations on transactions that deal with the sale of catalytic converters in scrap metal yards and will add the following steps to be required before a transaction can be completed:

• Any individual that is trying to sell a catalytic converter to a scrap yard must provide the year, make, model, and vehicle identification number (VIN) for the vehicle from which the catalytic converter was removed;
• Buyers of catalytic converters must photograph both the catalytic converter and the individual selling it at the time of sale; and
• Buyers must withhold payment for 48 hours after the purchase of a catalytic converter is completed.

Car owners should not bear the expense of replacing pricey stolen parts from their vehicles. Ensuring these details and photographs are recorded prior to the completion of the sale will help to prevent these thefts in the future.
 
Pennsylvania consumers deserve the highest level of protection. I hope that you will join me in preventing catalytic converter theft in the Commonwealth.