BILL NUMBER: S8968
SPONSOR: MARTINEZ
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law and the penal law, in
relation to regulating the purchase and sale of catalytic converters
 
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this legislation is to clarify who can buy or sell used,
detached catalytic converters. This legislation further prohibits the
possession of two or more catalytic converters by any individual who is
not registered as a scrap metal dealer, vehicle dismantler, or repair
shop.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1: The vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new arti-
cle 12-E defining "catalytic converter". This new article further delin-
eates the standards and regulations for the purchasing, selling and
handling of detached catalytic converters.
Section 2: Section 165.55 of the penal law is amended by adding a new
subdivision 5 clarifying that any individual who does not possess a
required license as set forth in article 12-E of the vehicle and traffic
law shall be presumed to know that such catalytic converters are stolen
property.
Section 3: Section 165.45 of the penal law is amended by adding a new
subdivision 8 clarifying that each unlawfully obtained detached catalyt-
ic converter in an individual's possession shall be a separate
violation. This subdivision further delineates any catalytic converter
in the possession of such individual shall be subject to seizure and
forfeiture by law enforcement officers.
Section 4: Section 60.27 of the penal law is amended by adding a new
subdivision 15 requiring the court to order the defendant to pay for the
repair and replacement of the catalytic converter.
Section 5: Establishes the enacting clause.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
In recent years, New York has experienced a significant uptick in cata-
lytic converter theft, resulting in a large number of New Yorkers fall-
ing victim to a costly and often unresolvable crime. In Suffolk County,
reported catalytic converter theft more than quadrupled between the
years of 2021 and 2022, rising from 282 thefts to 1,581.1 Victims of
catalytic converter theft face not only the inconvenience and loss of
their vehicles during a lengthy repairs process, but also the financial
burden of repairs and replacement. While a used catalytic converter may
be sold at an average cost of $73.19, the costs to replace and repair a
vehicle's catalytic converter can cost up to thousands of dollars.'
The ability of law enforcement to address and intercede this proliferat-
ing crime is often hampered both by the speed in which catalytic
converters can be stolen and the difficulty of obtaining probable cause
from an offender. Under current law, apprehending an individual solely
on suspicion of possessing multiple catalytic converters has become
increasingly difficult. Unless caught in the act, the possession of
stolen catalytic converters does not fall within probable cause for an
arrest. Catalytic converters bear no identifying serial numbers connect-
ing it to the original vehicle, therefore, the stolen converter is
largely untraceable. This legislation aims to provide an effective meth-
od to deter catalytic converter theft, and justice to victims.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New Bill
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall have
become a law.
1 CBS News, 2023. Catalytic converter thefts on Long Island more than
quadrupled from 2021 to 2022. Retrieved from:
https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/newskatalytic-converter-thefts-on-long-
island-morethan-quadrupled-from-2021-to-2022/
2 RR Cats, 2024. Catalytic Converter Grade Guide. Retrieved from:
https://rrcats.com/catalytic-converterscrap-prices/picturest :-:text=%24
71.90~/02Feach,catalytie/020converters%20in%20the%2OUS.

Statutes affected:
S8968: 165.55 penal law, 165.45 penal law, 60.27 penal law