The National Independent Automobile Dealers Association (NIADA) commends Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) for introducing the Preventing Auto Recycling Thefts (PART) Act, legislation aimed to combat the nationwide issue of catalytic convertor theft.
This legislation is the Senate companion to HR 6394, the “Preventing Auto Recycling Theft” (PART) Act, introduced by Congressman Jim Baird (R-IN-4) on January 13, 2022. The PART Act provides a national framework to help law enforcement combat catalytic converter theft, requires new vehicles to have unique, traceable identifying numbers stamped on catalytic converters at the time of assembly, and establishes a federal criminal penalty for the theft, sale, trafficking or known purchase of stolen catalytic converters of up to five years in jail.
“Catalytic convertor theft is a major issue for NIADA members, and we have long waited for congressional action. Senator Klobuchar and Senator Wyden’s PART comes as a welcome step in the process started by Congressman Baird to combat catalytic convertor theft,” said Bob Voltmann, CEO of NIADA. “We look forward to engaging with Senator Klobuchar, Senator Wyden, and Congressman Baird’s staff to ensure that this critical legislation is passed and reaches President Biden’s desk.”
Catalytic converters are being stolen at increasingly higher rates because they contain valuable metals, such as rhodium, platinum and palladium. According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, the number of catalytic converter thefts reported in insurance company claims sharply increased from 2019 to 2020, and 2021 is likely to have been another record year, with some cities reporting that the instances of this crime have tripled.
NIADA will continue to work with Klobuchar’s, Wyden’s, and Baird’s offices to educate their colleagues on the importance of these bills.
