AB 1519: Vehicles: catalytic converters.

Existing law licenses and regulates motor vehicle dealers and retail sellers. Existing law prohibits a motor vehicle dealer or retail seller from selling any motor vehicle that is not in compliance with the requirements enumerated in the Vehicle Code.

This bill would prohibit any person, except as exempted, from removing, altering, or obfuscating the vehicle identification number that has been added to a catalytic converter, or from knowingly possessing 3 or more catalytic converters that have been so altered.

A violation of these provisions would be punishable as a misdemeanor.

By creating new crimes, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.