New laws take aim at catalytic converter theft

Gov. Gavin Newsom said this week that he signed a bill that makes it illegal for recyclers to buy a valuable car part from anyone other than the legal owner or a licensed dealer. This is aimed at stopping the widespread theft of catalytic converters from cars.

There have been dozens, if not more than 100, catalytic converter thefts in Tulare County in the past two years.

Valuable metals like rhodium, platinum, and palladium are used in anti-pollution parts of cars. Parts that are hard to track down are easy to cut off a car, which makes them a good target for people who want to make money quickly at a scrap yard.

With the two new laws, buyers will have to pay more if they can't prove that a catalytic converter wasn't stolen. This should make it harder for thieves to sell stolen car parts.