* From Illinois’ Recyclable Metal Purchase Registration Law…

It is a violation of this Act for any person to sell or attempt to sell, or for any recyclable metal dealer to purchase or attempt to purchase, any of the following: […]

4) any catalytic converter not attached to a motor vehicle at the time of the transaction unless the seller is licensed as an automotive parts recycler or scrap processor.

(b) This Section shall not apply when the seller produces written documentation reasonably demonstrating that the seller is the owner of the recyclable metal material or is authorized to sell the material on behalf of the owner. The recyclable metal dealer shall copy any such documentation and maintain it along with the purchase record required by Section 3 of this Act.

* Check out the required documentation…

1. The name and address of the recyclable metal dealer;
2. The date and place of each purchase;
3. The name and address of the person or persons from whom the recyclable metal was purchased, which shall be verified from a valid driver’s license or other government-issued photo identification. The recyclable metal dealer shall make and record a photocopy or electronic scan of the driver’s license or other government-issued photo identification. If the person delivering the recyclable metal does not have a valid driver’s license or other government-issued photo identification, the recyclable metal dealer shall not complete the transaction;
4. The motor vehicle license number and state of issuance of the motor vehicle license number of the vehicle or conveyance on which the recyclable metal was delivered to the recyclable metal dealer;
5. A description of the recyclable metal purchased, including the weight and whether it consists of bars, cable, ingots, rods, tubing, wire, wire scraps, clamps, connectors, other appurtenances, or some combination thereof;
6. Photographs or video, or both, of the seller and of the materials as presented on the scale; and
7. A declaration signed and dated by the person or persons from whom the recyclable metal was purchased which states the following:

“I, the undersigned, affirm under penalty of law that the property that is subject to this transaction is not to the best of my knowledge stolen property.”.

A copy of the recorded information shall be kept in an electronic record-keeping system by the recyclable metal dealer. Purchase records shall be retained for a period of 3 years. Photographs shall be retained for a period of 3 months and video recordings shall be retained for a period of one month. The electronic record-keeping system shall be made available for inspection by any law enforcement official or the representatives of common carriers and persons, firms, corporations or municipal corporations engaged in either the generation, transmission or distribution of electric energy or engaged in telephone, telegraph or other communications, at any time.

Whew, that’s a lot.

* Penalties…

Sec. 8. Penalty. Any recyclable metal dealer or other person who knowingly fails to comply with this Act is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor for the first offense, and a Class 4 felony for the second or subsequent offense. Each day that any recyclable metal dealer so fails to comply shall constitute a separate offense.

Sec. 9. Injunctions. The Illinois Attorney General or the State’s Attorney for the county in which the recyclable metal dealer is located may initiate an appropriate action in the circuit court of the county in which a recyclable metal dealer is located to prevent the unlawful operation of a recyclable metal dealer, or to restrain, correct, or abate a violation of this Act, or to prevent any illegal act or conduct by the recyclable metal dealer.

* So, keep all that in mind when reading this Kankakee Daily Journal editorial…

A catalytic converter is a device that looks like a small muffler within the exhaust system. It’s designed to convert the engine’s hazardous exhaust into less harmful gases.

To accomplish this, manufacturers use platinum, palladium and rhodium. The value of these precious metals has skyrocketed in recent years. On Nov. 18, the prices for these metals were listed as $1,049, $2,080 and $13,300, respectively. That’s per troy ounce. (It takes 1.09 regular ounces to make a troy ounce, which is the measurement standard for many precious metals.)

In 2017, the value of rhodium was $779.23 per troy ounce.

With gold in their eyes and power tools in their hands, thieves make quick work of removing catalytic converters from the underbelly of gas-powered vehicles. That’s Part 1 of the problem. Part 2 is how easily they can turn these car parts into cold, hard cash with no questions asked.

The converters are very easy to steal and the task can take less than two minutes. Selling them isn’t as easy, because no matter what the Daily Journal claims, you can’t take them to just any metal recycling center. You have to know somebody, or know somebody who does.

The illicit buyers are either transporting the stolen goods out of state or are processing the valuable materials themselves or in a regional location and then reselling those materials on the legit market. And if that’s the case, permanently marking your catalytic converter likely won’t deter theft.

* A small sampling of recent headlines from a quick Google News search…

* Police: Multiple catalytic converter thefts reported in Near North Side

* Car Burglaries, Catalytic Converter Thefts Surge In Wheaton

* Peoria auto shop sees uptick in catalytic converter theft

* 8 Catalytic Converters Stolen In 1 Night in Oak Lawn

* Catalytic Converter Crooks Hit Mount Greenwood

* Lakeview shooting: Licensed carrier kills would-be catalytic converter thief in shootout, CPD says

* It’s also a national issue…

(F)or example, in California. As CBS 2’s Jim Williams reported, State Farm Insurance said its customers’ claims for catalytic converter thefts jumped 175% between June of 2020 and June of 2021. Cities like Miami, Phildelphia, Denver and Pittsburgh report seeing the same trend.

The state could try regulating the sale of rhodium, but I doubt that’ll work, either.

The feds need to jump in here now, but so do the automakers. This is beyond ridiculous.