A new state law took effect on July 1st requiring recyclers and scrap dealers to make sure they aren’t buying stolen catalytic converters “The problem is 43% of retail sales are in King County” says county councilmember Reagan Dunn, “we had a massive increase last year 4,252 catalytic converter thefts, we’re on pace to beat that this year.”
Between January and April of this year, Washington ranked first in the nation in the number of catalytic converter thefts per 100,000 vehicles. The increase started in 2019 and by 2021 they jumped by almost 13,000% over that 3-year period.
“There’s no question about it there has to be consequences” says Dunn, a tough on crime politician, “the theory of prosecution is deterrence. We need to arrest and prosecute a few folks and if we do that I think we can send a message.”
The precious metals inside the catalytic converter are what make them so valuable to thieves as Dunn notes, “they use specialized metals like palladium, rhodium and others (platinum) that are 10 times the price of gold, they’re precious metals.”
The legislation also features a public service campaign as the state works to develop a broader plan for fighting catalytic converter thefts.
It’s expected to go before the King County Law, Justice, Health and Human Services committee later this month.
