Jan. 25, 2023—New legislation proposed in the Minnesota House will be targeted toward stopping catalytic converter thefts.
The bill introduced “new criminal penalties for the possession or sale of the car part,” according to CBS Minnesota.
It would make the process for scrap dealers to purchase catalytic converters more rigorous, such as labeling each part and obtaining the original vehicle’s license and registration. An electronic database would then be set up for law enforcement to keep track of the parts.
One of the concerns over the bill is the potential delay of scrap dealers receiving parts, as voiced by Jeremy Estenson, a lobbyist for the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries.
Minnesota ranks “fifth in the nation for the number of insurance claims related to catalytic converter thefts,” according to data from State Farm as reported by CBS Minnesota. Republicans and Democrats both advanced the bill from committee with more hearings in the House to follow.
One of the concerns over the bill is the potential delay of scrap dealers receiving parts, as voiced by Jeremy Estenson, a lobbyist for the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries.
Minnesota ranks “fifth in the nation for the number of insurance claims related to catalytic converter thefts,” according to data from State Farm as reported by CBS Minnesota. Republicans and Democrats both advanced the bill from committee with more hearings in the House to follow.
