A new Rhode Island law aims to curb the theft of catalytic converters.
The legislation requires anyone purchasing a converter to obtain either the vehicle registration or VIN number from which it was removed and provide the information to law enforcement upon request.
Business-to-business transactions are excluded.
“This legislation will crack down on a crime that is extremely costly to car owners,” said Representative Solomon, who chairs the House Corporations Committee, which heard testimony on the legislation last week. “The perpetrators of this crime get pennies on the dollar for these converters while the cost of replacing them can be well over $1,000, especially if the car is damaged while criminals attempt to remove the converters quickly. Taking these converters really hurts the most vulnerable in our society — people going to work every day, single mothers living paycheck to paycheck who now have an additional huge expense they can’t afford.”
According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, catalytic converter thefts have dramatically increased since the start of the pandemic.
“Catalytic converter theft has become a serious issue in the neighborhoods of Providence and throughout the state,” said Senator Goodwin. “This legislation will aid law enforcement officials in tracking down the perpetrators of these thefts, which often occur in less than a minute. It will also protect business owners from unknowingly acquiring and selling stolen goods by making sure these devices are coming from legitimate sources. This is a practical solution to a problem that is plaguing more and more people every day.”
Representative Solomon says this will crack down on a crime that is extremely-costly to car owners.
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