Wyden bill aims to fight catalytic converter thefts, require VIN numbers be stamped on them

Would help police track, link them to vehicles; also would make such theft criminal offense

WASHINGTON (KTVZ) -- Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., said last week they have introduced legislation that would combat the rise in catalytic converter thefts, in part by requiring vehicle ID numbers to be stamped on the devices.

They said the Preventing Auto Recycling Theft (PART) Act would ensure that law enforcement can more effectively address these thefts by marking each converter with a traceable identification number and establishing converter thefts as a criminal offense. 

“The theft of catalytic converters hurts the pocketbooks of working families and small business owners already struggling with rising costs,” Wyden said. “By strengthening local law enforcement’s ability to locate stolen car parts, we will be one step closer in the fight to end catalytic converter theft.”

“Throughout the country, we’ve seen an alarming increase in catalytic converter thefts. These converters can be easily taken from unattended cars but are difficult and expensive for car owners to replace,” said Klobuchar. “By making catalytic converter theft a criminal offense and ensuring each converter can be easily tracked, our legislation would provide law enforcement officers with the tools and resources they need to crack down on these crimes.”

Catalytic converters reduce the potency of toxic emissions from an internal combustion engine and are required for vehicle compliance with the Clean Air Act. According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, catalytic converter thefts rose by over 325 percent from 2019 to 2020. Replacing these parts imposes significant financial costs to vehicle owners, often between $500 to $2,300 and can even result in a total loss to the vehicle.

 The PART Act would: 

-        Require new vehicles to have a Vehicle Identification number (VIN) stamped onto the converter to allow law enforcement officers to link stolen parts to the vehicle from which they originate;

-        Create a grant program through which entities can stamp VIN numbers onto catalytic converters of existing vehicles;

-        Improve record keeping standards for purchasers of used catalytic converters; and

-        Establish enforceability of laws around catalytic converter theft by codifying these crimes as a criminal offense.

The bill has received the endorsement of the National Automobile Dealers Association, the American Truck Dealers (ATD), the American Trucking Associations (ATA), the Automotive Recyclers Association (ARA), the National Automatic Merchandising Association (NAMA), the National Independent Automobile Dealers Association (NIADA), the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), the National RV Dealers Association (RVDA), the National Salvage Vehicle Reporting Program (NSVRP), NTEA — The Association for the Work Truck Industry, the American Car Rental Association (ACRA), the NAFA Fleet Management Association, the National Consumers League (NCL), the National Private Truck Council, and the Truck Renting and Leasing Association (TRALA).

Representative Jim Baird (R-IN) leads companion legislation in the House of Representatives. 

The bill text is here.