Trying to fight a rash of thefts from Priuses and different automobiles, the Los Angeles Metropolis Council voted Tuesday to make it unlawful to own an unattached catalytic converter with out proof of possession.
On an 8-4 vote, the council permitted an ordinance permitting police to arrest anybody who has a catalytic converter that isn’t linked to a car — and fails to supply a receipt or different figuring out data, resembling documentation from an auto restore store, spelling out the possession.
Councilmember John Lee, who represents the northwest San Fernando Valley, stated the brand new ordinance would give the LAPD a much-needed software at a time when theft victims are struggling to search out replacements for his or her stolen catalytic converters. The Occasions lately discovered that Prius homeowners ceaselessly wait a number of months for a alternative half, a state of affairs that ceaselessly leaves them and not using a working automotive.
“Everybody who has had a catalytic converter stolen is aware of that the theft is just one a part of it,” Lee stated. “Pay for the invoice, look forward to the half, after which ready for the restore and actually having no thought whenever you’ll be getting your automotive again.”
Councilmembers Heather Hutt, Nithya Raman, Marqueece Harris-Dawson and Eunisses Hernandez voted towards the measure. Hernandez, who represents a part of the Eastside, stated there are already a number of legal guidelines on the books tackling catalytic converter theft.
Hernandez stated town’s ordinance, which might deal with possession of catalytic converters as a misdemeanor, would disproportionately goal Black, Latino, Indigenous and low-income residents.
“A prison conviction and jail time can harm somebody’s life eternally, resulting in collateral penalties like the lack to acquire jobs, hire residences and get a mortgage,” she stated. “This places folks in a revolving door of desperation and recidivism.”
Town had roughly 8,000 reported catalytic converter thefts final 12 months, up from 972 reported in 2018, in line with Lee. Some Prius homeowners have seen the coveted automotive half, which is used to regulate emissions, stolen two, three and even 4 occasions.
Hernandez and Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martinez stated a greater technique could be for town to assist residents connect cages or different anti-theft gadgets to their automobiles to guard their catalytic converters. Harris-Dawson stated the ordinance would trigger extra Black and Latino drivers to be pulled over and questioned by officers about what’s inside their automobiles.
Punishing folks for possessing unattached catalytic converters “doesn’t assist anyone,” he stated.
“When any individual will get one thing stolen, town ought to be doing the whole lot we are able to to ensure they’re made entire — to not punish one other particular person,” Harris-Dawson added.
Soto-Martinez additionally opposed the ordinance, however left the assembly earlier than the council solid its vote.
The council initially voted in favor of the ordinance final month. As a result of it was not unanimous, members needed to take it up once more Tuesday. Eight votes was the minimal wanted for approval.
Beneath the ordinance, every catalytic converter discovered with out correct documentation would qualify as a separate violation. Those that are convicted of violating the ordinance would resist six months in jail or as much as $1,000 in fines.
The measure has drawn assist from the Sherman Oaks, Studio Metropolis and Westside neighborhood councils. Officers within the LAPD additionally backed the ordinance, saying it might make it simpler for officers to make arrests in instances the place they discover a automotive with a number of catalytic converters however haven’t decided the place they have been stolen.
