WA legislature passes bill to prevent catalytic converter thefts

OLYMPIA - The legislature is attempting to address skyrocketing catalytic converter thefts across the state with a bill passed by both chambers in the past week.

“These items can go for over 200,000 miles,” Sen. Jeff Wilson, R-Longview said, “catalytic converters, as we know demonstrated by the crime statistic, are not wearing out; they’re being stolen.”

Catalytic converter theft is undoubtedly becoming a bigger issue, said Rep. Cindy Ryu, D-Shoreline. Legislators on both sides of the aisle have worked hard on crafting House Bill 1815 to protect private property and many individuals’ only forms of transportation.

During a Senate floor debate last week, Wilson highlighted a crucial driver in catalytic converter theft - same-day cash payments. He said cash talks and sometimes too much; it incentivizes thieves to make quick money.

House Bill 1815 requires the Joint Transporation Committee to bring together a catalytic converter theft workgroup. The group will study and provide recommendations and options for mitigating the rising thefts.

The Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs will establish, as funded, a grant and training program to assist local law enforcement in support of special enforcement targeting metal theft.

HB 1815 also requires scrap metal businesses to keep documentation ensuring catalytic converters come from vehicles registered in the seller’s name. This provision builds off other requirements to preserve evidence of stolen property.

It is a gross misdemeanor to intentionally remove, alter or obliterate any identifiers on a piece of private, nonferrous or commercial metal property to deceive a scrap metal business. Private metal property means catalytic converters either sold individually or in bulk.

The value of catalytic converters follows the precious metal market, which is currently rising, said Christina Warren, head of operations at Moses Lake Iron & Metal. The part is quickly and easily removed, making it a target everywhere.

“They’re readily available and the value when you have one of those will usually skyrocket,” Warren said. “It’s fast money for (thieves) for one little item.”

Moses Lake Iron & Metal already follows many of the guidelines HB 1815 puts in place. Warren said the yard opted to follow the provisions to provide an extra layer of protection and a record to look back on when tracking stolen items.

She said these protections deter many local thefts; Moses Lake Iron & Metal has not seen any recent spikes in people trying to sell stolen catalytic converters despite the rising issue. The yard caps cash payments at $20 while the part ranges from hundreds to more than a thousand dollars.

HB 1815 sets a cap at $30 for cash payments; any amount exceeding that would be issued through a nontransferable check three days after the transaction. Individuals are prohibited from selling catalytic converters without photo identification and a street address.

Catalytic converter thieves face charges in varying degrees; theft in the first degree includes property exceeding a value of $5,000; theft in the second degree includes property exceeding $750 but not greater than $5,000, while the third degree does not exceed $750.

An additional fine of $1,000 per catalytic converter is being imposed for existing laws regarding private metal theft.