WASHINGTON, D.C. — A proposed bill is sitting on the floor of the United States Senate that plans to crack down on catalytic converter thefts.
Currently in Ohio and around the country, it’s very easy for thieves to pawn stolen catalytic converters. Because of that and the rising number of these types of thefts, U.S. Senators, including one from Ohio, have introduced legislation to try and put a stop to them.
News Center 7 talked to Senator JD Vance (R-Ohio) Thursday about Senate Bill 154, or the Preventing Auto Recycling Thefts (PART) Act. Vance, along with Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Mike Braun (R-IN), and Ron Wyden (D-OR), have introduced the bipartisan legislation which looks to make the vehicle parts traceable.
>> PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Dayton police launch new program to help deter catalytic converter theft
“The issue here is that the catalytic converters themselves are basically untraceable, so when you steal them you’re pretty are likely to get away from it unless people catch you with a stolen catalytic converter,” Vance said.
The PART Act would aim to make the parts more traceable so police can track down potentially stolen parts.
“What we’re going to do is require the automotive manufacturers to stamp the VIN numbers on the catalytic converters and that’s going to make sure these things are traceable,” Vance told News Center 7.
The change would also help make it easier for scrap metal buyers to know if the part presented to them might have been stolen.
>> RELATED: Father, son catch catalytic converter thief on their own
“Whether you’re a buyer or a seller of catalytic converters, you’d like to know whether you’re dealing with stolen goods,” he said.
The PART Act marks the first piece of legislation that Vance is backing as a senator. He told us that this is one of the problems Ohioans sent him to Washington, D.C. to get done and that with this being a bipartisan bill, he feels confident it can get passed.
“I’m trying to find things where there are opportunities to work with democratic colleagues consistent with my own principles to do things that are going to help the people of Ohio,” Vance said.
©2023 Cox Media Group
