New York cracking down on catalytic converter thefts

ALBANY — New York is revving up efforts to crack down on catalytic converter thefts, Gov. Hochul said Monday.

The governor signed legislation and announced new funding and steps being taken by state police aimed at curbing the growing black market for the exhaust components coveted by crooks for their resale value.

“We’re going to double down on these efforts because this is a serious problem,” Hochul said during a signing ceremony at a State Police barracks in Suffolk County, Long Island. “You shouldn’t have to go to bed at night wondering if someone is stealing this valuable commodity out of your own driveway.”

The new law will impose restrictions on selling catalytic converters and require all qualified dealerships to carry etching kits to engrave serial numbers onto the converters so they can be more easily tracked if stolen.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced new actions to increase interagency vehicle and catalytic converter theft enforcement in high-theft areas by targeting unauthorized and illegal vehicle dismantlers, or "chop shops," on Monday, Oct. 17, 2022.

Catalytic converters are emission control devices that aid in reducing the amount of pollution produced by gas-fueled vehicles and contain precious metals such as platinum, rhodium and palladium. Prices for the parts have skyrocketed in recent years due to supply chain issues and the cost to replace them can run into the thousands.

According to the NYPD, catalytic converter thefts have almost quadrupled so far this year in the five boroughs.

There have been 5,548 reported thefts of the devices in the city as of Aug. 14, in comparison to 1,505 during the same period in 2021.

Governor also signed legislation (S.9428/ A.1940-E) to combat the theft of catalytic converters, which imposes restrictions on the purchase, sale, and possession of catalytic converters by vehicle dismantlers and scrap processers.

The bill signed by Hochul on Monday will see the state classify catalytic converters as a major component vehicle part, which will require vehicle dismantlers to maintain records of them. It also requires dealerships to stock etching kits.

“We’re holding the dismantlers and the scrap dealers to a much higher standard,” bill sponsor Sen. Diane Savino (D-Staten Island) said. “People should not have to buy insurance for an auto part. They shouldn’t have to climb under their own car and put an alarm on their catalytic converter.”

Hochul is also directing the state police to work with local law enforcement agencies on increasing enforcement and announced that the state is making $20 million is available to help departments and sheriffs’ offices invest in new technology.

The money will be doled out by the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services, which is seeking seeking applications for license plate readers, mobile and fixed surveillance cameras, drones and other devices departments request.

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