The Minnesota Senate voted to clamp down on a crime spree that has swept across the nation – catalytic converter theft. In an effort to deter thieves, lawmakers passed legislation March 2 making it more difficult for stolen units to be sold and reused.
In an illustration of the rising power and profitability of precious metals, thefts from vehicle pollution control devices have surged drastically in recent years. Data from the National Insurance Crime Bureau shows that what was 3,389 cases in 2019 has now become over 52,000 incidents only two years later in 2021. Experts attribute this rise to surging prices for metals such as rhodium or platinum going into cars’ converters—and many thefts aren’t covered by insurance and therefore go unreported.
Minnesota has become a hotspot for catalytic converter theft, landing it in the third spot nationwide behind California and Texas. The state Department of Commerce is uncertain as to why this may be the case, but experts have pointed out that our thieves find them easy to steal and quickly resell making it hard for authorities to take notice.
“It’s going to have an impact on reducing theft in this state,” the chief sponsor, state Sen. John Marty of Roseville, a Democrat, said during the floor debate, noting that the bill, which passed by a 40-25 vote, has strong support from law enforcement. “I think it’s going to have a big impact on it.”
Vehicle owners across the state could soon be facing higher insurance premiums due to a growing market for stolen catalytic converters. Out of pocket, these replacements can range from $2,000-$3,000 – leaving car owners without their vehicle and with an unwelcome expense lasting up to several weeks until they receive a new part.
The Minnesota bill is similar to model legislation that the International Association of Auto Theft Investigators is promoting across the country. According to Marty, this bill could be used as an example across the nation on how to best tackle these thefts.
A proposed bill would create a new way for law enforcement to track the origin of scrap metal parts. It requires scrap metal dealers to log detailed identifying information, such as VIN numbers, into an online database if it is not attached to a vehicle in order to trace its provenance more effectively.
Proposed changes could see possession of an unmarked converter become illegal in most cases. Sellers would have to provide proof of ownership and only registered dealers could buy used converters. Should someone be found illegally possessing one or more converters, the consequences would be severe: misdemeanors for single possessions; upwards of 5 years prison time if caught with 11-70; and up to 20 years behind bars should 71+ units be discovered,
Republican senators raised concerns during the debate regarding a proposed bill, emphasizing that it could potentially have dire consequences on small scrap dealers who may make innocent mistakes. They also argued this would do little to hamper organized criminal groups seeking to traffic stolen converters across state lines.
“This bill is not going to fix the problem,” said state Sen. Gary Dahms of Redwood Falls, a Republican. “This is one of those feel-good bills, if you folks that are voting for this could go back to your districts and say how much you’ve done when you’ve done nothing.”
Joe Boche of the Commerce Department’s fraud bureau stated that the proposed legislation would put a stop to a large number of criminals looking to get some quick cash to use for illicit purposes, like buying drugs.
After Senate amendments satisfactorily addressed dealers’ worries, the bill is heading back to its place of origin—the House (which overwhelmingly approved it 113-15 last month). Once further action has been taken there, Democratic Governor Tim Walz will be presented with the bill and is expected to give it his signature – the final step before making it law.
Source: ttnews
