Seeking to combat a wave of thefts of Priuses and other cars, the Los Angeles City Council voted Tuesday to make it illegal to possess a loose catalytic converter without proof of ownership.
In an 8-4 vote, the council approved an ordinance allowing police to arrest anyone who has a catalytic converter that is not connected to a vehicle and does not present a receipt or other identifying information, such as documentation from a shop. auto repair. detailing the property.
Councilman John Lee, who represents the northwest San Fernando Valley, said the new ordinance would give the LAPD a much-needed tool at a time when theft victims are struggling to find replacements for their stolen catalytic converters. The Times recently discovered that Prius owners frequently wait several months to receive a replacement part, a situation that often leaves them without a working car.
“Everyone who has had a catalytic converter stolen knows that theft is only part of it,” Lee said. “Pay the bill, wait for the part and then wait for the repair and really have no idea when you'll get your car back.”
Council members Heather Hutt, Nithya Raman, Marqueece Harris-Dawson and Eunisses Hernandez voted against the measure. Hernandez, who represents part of the Eastside, said there are already multiple laws in place that address the theft of catalytic converters.
Hernandez said the city ordinance, which would treat possession of catalytic converters as a misdemeanor, would disproportionately target Black, Latino, Indigenous and low-income residents.
“A criminal conviction and prison sentence can damage someone's life forever, which has collateral consequences such as the inability to obtain employment, rent apartments and obtain a loan,” he said. “This puts people in a revolving door of despair and recidivism.”
The city had approximately 8,000 catalytic converter thefts reported last year, up from 972 reported in 2018, according to Lee. Some Prius owners have seen their coveted car part, used to control emissions, stolen two, three, or even four times.
Hernandez and Councilman Hugo Soto-Martínez said a better strategy would be for the city to help residents put cages or other anti-theft devices in their cars to protect their catalytic converters. Harris-Dawson said the ordinance would cause officers to stop and question more black and Latino drivers about what was inside their cars.
Punishing people for owning loose catalytic converters “doesn't help anyone,” he said.
“When someone has something stolen, the city should do everything it can to make sure it's recovered, not to punish someone else,” Harris-Dawson added.
Soto Martínez also opposed the ordinance, but left the meeting before the council cast its vote.
The council initially voted in favor of the ordinance last month. Since it was not unanimous, members had to take it up again on Tuesday. Eight votes was the minimum necessary for approval.
Under the ordinance, each catalytic converter found without proper documentation would qualify as a separate violation. Those found guilty of violating the ordinance would face up to six months in jail or up to $1,000 in fines.
The measure has garnered support from the Sherman Oaks, Studio City and Westside neighborhood councils. LAPD officials also supported the ordinance, saying it would make it easier for officers to make arrests in cases where they find a car with multiple catalytic converters but have not determined where they were stolen.
