Ohio House Passes Catalytic Converter Theft Legislation

COLUMBUS – The Ohio House recently passed House Bill 328, legislation that would bolster law enforcement's ability to investigate and combat catalytic converter theft announced State Rep. Bill Roemer (R-Richfield).

The bill intends to better protect consumers from catalytic converter theft and create more transparent guidelines for businesses. Catalytic converters take about three minutes to steal and appeal to those needing cash fast, as they contain precious metals like platinum, palladium, and rhodium.

“We’ve seen social service agencies having their catalytic converter stolen so they couldn’t serve our most vulnerable constituents,” said Roemer. “This is a finely crafted bill that I’ve worked on for almost four years. House Bill 328 will protect Ohioans.” 

The legislation puts in the following safeguards to protect consumers and businesses:

• Requires scrap metal dealers and other persons who purchase used catalytic converters to comply with certain additional recordkeeping, reporting, and process requirements.
• Enhances the penalties for theft when the item stolen is a catalytic converter.
• Enhances the penalties for receiving stolen property when the item stolen is a catalytic converter.

House Bill 328 now moves to the Ohio Senate for further consideration.