Congress reintroduces bill to stop surge of catalytic converter thefts

WASHINGTON — U.S. lawmakers in the House and Senate reintroduced legislation Monday that would help law enforcement combat an alarming rise in catalytic converter thefts across the country.

The bill — known as the Preventing Auto Recycling Theft, or PART, Act — aims to reduce catalytic converter thefts by requiring new vehicles to have the VIN stamped onto the converter, allowing law enforcement officers to link stolen parts to the originating vehicles.

It also would create a grant program to allow dealerships, repair shops and other eligible parties to stamp VINs onto converters of existing vehicles, and it would establish federal criminal penalties for theft, sale, trafficking or known purchases of stolen catalytic converters.

U.S. Rep. Jim Baird, R-Ind., led the bill's reintroduction in the House, where it has the support of Reps. Betty McCollum and Angie Craig, both Minnesota Democrats, and Republican Reps. Randy Feenstra of Iowa and Michael Guest of Mississippi.

In the Senate, the bill is spearheaded by Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., with support from Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon and Republican Sens. Mike Braun of Indiana and J.D. Vance of Ohio.

"Across the country, millions of Americans are faced with costly repairs to their vehicles thanks to skyrocketing rates of catalytic converter thefts," Baird said in a statement. "Last Congress, I was proud to introduce the PART Act because I recognized the impactful financial consequences these all-too-common thefts have had on Americans and business owners, and I want to empower our law enforcement to hold these thieves accountable."

In the U.S., catalytic converters are being stolen at increasingly higher rates because they contain costly precious metals such as platinum, palladium and rhodium and are not easily traceable.

The National Insurance Crime Bureau said there were 14,433 catalytic converter thefts reported in the U.S. in 2020 compared with 3,389 cases in 2019. In 2018, there were just 1,298 thefts reported.

“We have seen a dramatic 1,215 percent increase in catalytic converter thefts nationwide since the pandemic began. It is an issue that is plaguing the United States, and law enforcement needs additional support to put a stop to it,” David Glawe, CEO of the bureau, said in a statement.

“There is very little deterrent for thieves who commit these property crimes and, therefore, it is paramount for Congress to take action and make stealing a catalytic converter a felony.”

Stolen converters can go for up to $350 each on the black market, according to the National Automobile Dealers Association, but replacement costs to vehicle owners can average more than $2,500.

NADA and 12 other trade groups urged Congress in May to advance a bipartisan bill that addresses the rise in the thefts.

“Consumers across the nation are falling victim to rising catalytic converter theft, leaving them with costly repairs that are often worsened by supply chain woes,” NADA CEO Mike Stanton said in a statement. “America’s franchised auto dealers urge Congress to pass this important legislation.”