Catalytic converter thieves targeted by new law in California

California's Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Sunday that he had signed new bills into law to make the sale of stolen catalytic converters much more difficult. Theft of the emissions reduction equipment have spiked in the past couple of years, with thieves shamelessly stealing them out from under cars in driveways or in broad daylight.

The Los Angeles Times reports that the laws, Senate Bill 1087 proposed by state Sen. Lena Gonzalez (D-Long Beach), and Assembly Bill 1740 put forth by Assembly member Al Muratsuchi (D-Rolling Hills Estates), will force auto recyclers and used parts dealers to document where they are getting catalytic converters from. Thieves often will sell stolen "cats" to shops that might look the other way as to where the parts came from.

Car and Driver further reports that shops will have to keep mandated logs that include VINs or identification numbers etched into the catalytic converters themselves, contracts with sellers' IDs, and traceable payment methods. Parts resellers that don't keep logs will be subject to increasing fines, $1,000 for a first offense, $2,000 for a second, ramping up to a temporary suspension from doing business.