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Former Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker and the Massachusetts state legislature have handed a brand new invoice that establishes penalties for the unauthorized sale of catalytic converters – a transfer that has been met with reward by the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB).
Catalytic converters assist cut back the contaminants emitted by an car’s exhaust. They are sometimes comprised of uncommon metals corresponding to platinum, palladium or rhodium, which makes them value between a number of hundred to a number of thousand {dollars}.
Massachusetts’ Bill H.5356 was declared an emergency legislation to curb catalytic converter thefts within the state. On prime of limiting secondary gross sales of the auto half with out proof of possession, the laws additionally imposes further recordkeeping necessities.
NICB has launched a press release lauding the passage of the brand new invoice, notably as catalytic converter theft incidents proceed to intensify throughout the US.
“We have seen a dramatic 1,215% improve of catalytic converter theft nationwide because the pandemic started,” stated NICB president and CEO David Glawe. “Vehicle crime and catalytic converter theft is plaguing our nation and extra must be performed. NICB thanks former Governor Baker, the Massachusetts state legislature, and lots of of our nice companions and stakeholders for his or her work in passing this invoice.”
It just isn’t solely the NICB that’s apprehensive about catalytic converter theft; even insurance coverage carriers have taken discover. A research carried out by State Farm revealed in October discovered that between July 2021 and June 2022, catalytic converter theft grew 109% nationally. It was additionally famous that throughout the identical interval, greater than 43,219 of those elements had been stolen and reported by State Farm prospects, in comparison with simply above 20,600 within the earlier 12 months.