S 676: Regulates the purchase and sale of catalytic converters; permits only licensed or regulated scrap metal dealers, vehicle dealers, vehicle dismantlers or repair shops to possess, purchase or sell catalytic converters; makes unlawful possession an E felony; requires restitution.

  
  STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 676 2025-2026 Regular Sessions  IN SENATE (Prefiled) January 8, 2025 ___________ Introduced by Sen. MARTINEZ -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law and the penal law, in relation to regulating the purchase and sale of catalytic converters The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. The vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new 2 article 12-E to read as follows: 3 ARTICLE 12-E 4 CATALYTIC CONVERTERS 5 Section 399-u. Catalytic converters. 6 § 399-u. Catalytic converters. 1. For the purposes of this article 7 "catalytic converter" means an exhaust emission control device which 8 modifies exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine by catalyzing a 9 redox reaction. 10 2. (a) Any person engaged in the business of buying or selling unat- 11 tached catalytic converters as separate items, not as part of a scrapped 12 or dismantled motor vehicle, shall be registered as either a scrap metal 13 dealer under article six-C of the general business law, a dealer or 14 vehicle dismantler under article sixteen of this chapter or a repair 15 shop licensed under section three hundred ninety-eight-b of this chap- 16 ter. 17 (b) Any person who purchases a used, detached catalytic converter 18 shall be registered as either a scrap metal dealer under article six-C 19 of the general business law, a dealer or vehicle dismantler under arti- 20 cle sixteen of this chapter or a repair shop licensed under section 21 three hundred ninety-eight-b of this chapter. 22 3. A scrap metal dealer, as defined in article six-C of the general 23 business law, shall not purchase or otherwise acquire a used, detached 24 catalytic converter or any nonferrous metal part of such converter 25 unless: 26 (a) The used, detached catalytic converter is purchased at a site 27 licensed by the department through an in-person transaction; and EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD02010-01-5 
 S. 676 2 1 (b) The scrap metal dealer: 2 (i) obtains, verifies, and maintains all identification of the seller 3 and the vehicle the catalytic converter was removed from, including 4 year, make, model and vehicle identification number; and 5 (ii) obtains and maintains a copy of the seller's license or a copy of 6 the documentation and vehicle registration. 7 4. A used, detached catalytic converter or any part of such converter 8 shall not be shipped, unless the converter or part of such converter is 9 being shipped between licensed entities. 10 5. A scrap metal dealer shall indicate in the scrap metal dealer's 11 records any obvious markings on the used, detached catalytic converter, 12 including labels, and engravings, that would aid in the identification 13 of such catalytic converter. 14 6. Only the following persons may possess or sell a used, detached 15 catalytic converter: 16 (a) a motor vehicle dismantler and recycler required to be licensed by 17 the department; 18 (b) a licensed scrap metal processing facility or scrap processor; 19 (c) a motor vehicle dealer licensed by the department; 20 (d) a licensed motor vehicle repair shop or a mechanic employed at a 21 repair shop in the course of business of such licensed entity; 22 (e) any other licensed business that may reasonably generate, possess, 23 or sell used, detached catalytic converters; or 24 (f) an individual who possesses documentation indicating that the 25 catalytic converter in the individual's possession is the result of a 26 replacement of a catalytic converter from a vehicle registered in that 27 individual's name. 28 7. The provisions of this section shall not be deemed to prohibit a 29 registered vehicle dismantler or other persons engaged in the transfer 30 or disposal of junk and salvage vehicles, or a licensed scrap metal 31 processor, from transporting and selling used, detached catalytic 32 converters for the recovery of the metals or other components thereof. 33 § 2. Section 165.55 of the penal law is amended by adding a new subdi- 34 vision 5 to read as follows: 35 5. Any person who possesses two or more catalytic converters and who 36 does not possess a required license as set forth in article twelve-E of 37 the vehicle and traffic law shall be presumed to know that such catalyt- 38 ic converters are stolen property. 39 § 3. Section 165.45 of the penal law is amended by adding a new subdi- 40 vision 8 to read as follows: 41 8. The person possesses a used, detached catalytic converter which 42 such person is not otherwise authorized to possess pursuant to article 43 twelve-E of the vehicle and traffic law. Each unlawfully obtained or 44 possessed used, detached catalytic converter shall be a separate 45 violation. Where an individual is convicted under this subdivision any 46 catalytic converter in the possession of such person shall be subject to 47 seizure and forfeiture by law enforcement officers. 48 § 4. Section 60.27 of the penal law is amended by adding a new subdi- 49 vision 15 to read as follows: 50 15. If the offense of which a person is convicted is defined in subdi- 51 vision eight of section 165.45 of this chapter the court, in addition to 52 any other sentence, shall order the defendant to pay for the repair and 53 replacement of the catalytic converter. 54 § 5. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall 55 have become a law.