The Board of Supervisors has tentatively passed an ordinance to address the issue of catalytic converter theft by implementing local regulations and penalties. The aim is to hold these criminals accountable for stealing catalytic converters from our neighborhoods, as the victims, who are often working-class individuals, face significant financial burdens to replace these converters. By imposing local regulations, the board seeks to address this growing crime, which has become one of the fastest growing offenses nationwide.
The current state law does not allow law enforcement to seize a catalytic converter that has been removed from a vehicle unless a victim can be identified. The theft of catalytic converters is not only financially costly for the victims but also causes significant inconvenience and time-consuming repairs. In 2022, there were approximately 200 reported converter thefts countywide, and this year’s number has already increased by 58%.
Catalytic converters play a crucial role in reducing vehicle emissions and contain valuable metals like palladium, platinum, and rhodium, which have high market prices. Thieves sell these stolen converters to scrap metal dealers for profit.
The proposed Ordinance No. 987 aims to make it a misdemeanor offense for individuals to possess a catalytic converter that has been unlawfully detached from a vehicle. To avoid criminal charges, individuals found with a converter must provide legitimate evidence of ownership, such as bills of sale, auto body shop documents, email messages between the possessor and previous owner, or pictures of the vehicle from which the converter was removed.
Failing to provide the necessary evidence can result in fines ranging from $1,000 to $5,000, and potentially up to a year of incarceration in the county jail.
Despite the board’s efforts, some residents, like Roy Bleckert from Moreno Valley, express skepticism about the effectiveness of the ordinance, believing that offenders will merely be given a ticket without facing jail time. This raises concerns about the insufficient funding for jail beds at the Benoit Detention Center in Indio. Passing an ordinance and providing law enforcement with the necessary tools is important, but without appropriate punishment, the effectiveness of such measures may be limited.
Currently, only one-third of the Indo jail is operational, leading Supervisor Jeffries to question the need for additional inmate beds if the courts are not willing to incarcerate offenders.
It’s important to note that Ordinance No. 987 will only be applicable to unincorporated communities. Similar measures have been approved in San Bernardino County, as well as the cities of Eastvale and Upland.
This local ordinance is designed to address the lack of clear state provisions for converter theft and will undergo a second reading and final approval by the board in two weeks.
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