Relates to regulating the purchase and sale of catalytic converters

Showing the cosponsors who are on Agora, A to Z. The official record may list more.

• Republican1

Shown in neutral colors by design; Agora is non-partisan.

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why Monica Martinez says this is needed

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 unresolveable 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." 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.2 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.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.