Rutigliano Votes to Stop Catalytic Converter Theft

HARTFORD- State Rep. David Rutigliano (R-123) supported a wide-ranging bill that looks to aid law enforcement in tracking or identifying any potential criminal activity to combat the rise of catalytic converter theft in the state.

Trumbull has had several incidences of these thefts, including the catalytic converters of an entire fleet of school buses (28 buses) at the Cooperative Educational Service School in 2021 and 16 Trumbull school buses on Spring Hill Road last month, leaving students without ride to school.

Rep. Rutigliano said, “We needed to do something to stop the demand for these parts. Car owners are waking up daily wondering if their car/truck still have the catalytic converters each morning.

Under the legislation Senate Bill 256, the catalytic converter must be on the car before a recycler can buy it. The bill also says catalytic converters need to have a paper trail, meaning the recycler would need to write a stock number on the piece and have a written record of the transaction.

Also, the bill includes new rules for junk dealers and junk yards as well. Junk dealers would be required to keep a record of any catalytic converter that is not attached to a car.

The law would require junk dealers keep a record of the point of sale. They would need to keep information like how much the transaction cost, as well as the name, address, driver’s license, and a description of the person selling the catalytic converter. Sellers will only be permitted to sell one catalytic converter per day to a scrap metal dealer.

According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, the precious metals in catalytic converters can garner hundreds of dollars per component when turned in at a recycling center or scrapyard.