New state law proposal aims to stop catalytic converter thiefs cold - KOMO News

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Washington state lawmakers are set to convene next week at the state Capitol in Olympia for a new legislative session and one of the bills set to come up is a proposal to undercut the thriving marketplace for stolen catalytic converters.

State Sen. Jeff Wilson introduced the bill, saying he is targeting unscrupulous scrap metal dealers by going right to the point of sale where the stolen parts are converted into cash.

Wilson says he wants his proposal to garner bi-partisan support, and he said he is still open to suggestions to improve it.

Under's Wilson's proposal, the bill would:

• Make it illegal to buy catalytic converters from anyone who walks into a shop and tries to sell the automotive part on the spot.
• Add the possibility of misdemeanor charges to any dealer who knowingly buys or receives the stolen goods.
• Prohibit cash payments for the sale of catalytic converters.
• Impose a waiting period of at least five days before a sale of the automotive part could be approved.
• Only exempt legitimate businesses and sellers who can show proof of ownership.

"You have a very small offender (who are) the individuals," he said. "Then you have the very sophisticated crime rings."

Wilson is a Republican who represents the 19th District and says he modeled this legislation after a similar law that takes effect in Oregon next month.

He is concerned the Oregon law will drive the thieves into Washington, especially into his Longview community which is near the border between the two states.

A spokesman for the King County Sheriff's Office said the proposal could help curb the thefts, which have grown in recent months in Washington state.

“I think it does give us just one more way of engaging and deterring the theft,” said sheriff's Sgt. Tim Meyer, a spokesman for the agency.

Law enforcement agencies nationwide are still struggling to keep up with the accelerating number of thefts of catalytic converters, which help filter toxic fumes produced by vehicles.

Driving this crime wave is the demand for the precious metals inside the part, and they still command sky high prices on the secondary resellers' market. But Wilson’s bill is already getting some push back from the scrap metal industry.

“It seems like the people in the scrap yards are going to get harsher sentences than the people actually out there doing the thieving,” says Melody McPharlin, general manager at Calbag Metals in Tacoma, a scrap yard that just stopped buying catalytic converters a few months ago because of increased scrutiny on sales. all the scrutiny.

She said most reputable dealers already go through multiple hoops.

“We’re already trying to vet these people and make sure that people bringing them in are on the up and up," she said. "So, it is frustrating to have it come back and have it fall on my employee."

source: https://komonews.com/news/politics/new-law-proposal-aims-to-stop-catalytic-converter-thiefs-cold

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