Proposed Ohio Bill Targets Catalytic Converter Thefts
CINCINNATI —Ohio lawmakers are working to curb the continued thefts of catalytic converters, which can be stolen in minutes and are targeted by thieves for the precious metals they contain.
Lawmakers in Ohio's House have approved a bill that would stiffen penalties for thieves and those who buy stolen anti-theft devices in the state.
The bill, House Bill 328 would also require people selling catalytic converters to show proof of ownership, such as a title, registration, or vehicle identification number.
“We’ve seen social service agencies having their catalytic converter stolen so they couldn’t serve our most vulnerable constituents,” the bill's co-author, State Republican Rep. Bill Roemer, said in a statement. “This is a finely crafted bill that I’ve worked on for almost four years. House Bill 328 will protect Ohioans.”
The bill was also co-authored by Ohio State Representative Phil Plummer of Montgomery County.
If the bill becomes law, it will make stealing a catalytic converter in Ohio a fifth-degree felony punishable by up to one year in prison and a $2,500 fine. Businesses found in violation of purchasing a stolen device could face a $10,000 fine for each offense; they could also lose their license to operate if House Bill 328 is approved.
Catalytic converters are emissions control devices required by the Clean Air Act on all automobiles made in the U.S. after 1970. The anti-pollution devices contain expensive precious metals like palladium, platinum and rhodium.
"Under state law it is illegal to knowingly sell, lease, rent or operate a vehicle in a tampered condition," according to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. "Removing a pollution control device from a vehicle is illegal. Likewise, selling or installing a device that would hamper the effectiveness of any vehicle pollution control system is prohibited."
The part can be sawed off in a matter of minutes, Adam, manager of Phat Pat's Auto in Cincinnati's Westwood neighborhood, said. Even his auto shop was targeted by thieves in the past two years. Thieves stole nine catalytic converters from their lot, totaling nearly $10,000 in damages.
He said Phat Pat's also repaired vehicles for several Westside churches that were targeted. Church vans were targeted leading to thousands of dollars in repairs, he said.
Thieves can make between $50 and $300 after selling a stolen device, according to automotive experts. The cost of repairs from a stolen catalytic converter can be more than $1,000.
Nationwide thefts skyrocketed in 2022, according to insurance claims data released by State Farm. The company paid out more than $115 million over 45,000 claims in 2022. Thefts continued but dropped sharply to 14,500 during the first half of 2023, totaling $41.7 million.
"While the drop in reported catalytic converter thefts has been large, there has not been a corresponding drop in replacements," according to Carfax according to Carfax. "Carfax data shows only a decline of 5.1% in replacements for 2023 compared to 2022."
Carfax ranked the Ford F-150, Ford Explorer and Honda Accord as the most targeted vehicle for catalytic converter thefts. Experts at Carfax say what's surprising is that there is no single type of car being targeted. SUVs, pickup trucks, sedans and even hybrid vehicles have been targeted.