OLYMPIA, Wash. – Washington State lawmakers have unanimously passed a law aimed at reducing catalytic converter thefts.
It weighs heavily on scrap metal businesses that buy catalytic converters, requiring them to ID a seller and confirm that the person owns the vehicle they got the device from.
On-the-spot cash payments are banned, and sellers would have to wait three days to be paid by check.
The bill also creates a workgroup of representatives of law enforcement, prosecutors, affected industries and theft victims to study how to better combat the crime.
It declares an emergency and would take effect immediately with Governor Inslee’s signature.