Title
Amending Sections 280.11 and 280.12 of the Saint Paul Legislative Code to make the sale or purchase of a catalytic converter that is not attached to a vehicle, by a person or business that is not properly licensed, a misdemeanor level offense.
Body
SECTION 1
WHEREAS, thefts of catalytic converters have been rising dramatically in the city of Saint Paul; and
WHEREAS, this crime targets unsuspecting victims who have often parked their vehicle in an open and accessible place to include the street, alleyway, commercial and/or private lot; and
WHEREAS, catalytic converters are targeted for theft because they are on the exterior of cars and accessible and because they contain some higher valued metals, they can be sold for scrap; and
WHEREAS, the average cost of replacement of a catalytic converter ranges between hundreds to thousands of dollars per vehicle; and
WHEREAS, the cost of this crime not only weighs heavily upon the victims but also upon the city itself; and
WHEREAS, the costs include the resources that must be directed to try and combat this problem from both the Department of Safety & Inspection and the St. Paul Police Department; and
WHEREAS, catalytic theft cases are challenging for investigators to piece together due to a lack of physical evidence that is traceable, this ordinance will give Law Enforcement additional tools to help investigators mitigate these thefts; and
WHEREAS, the City of Saint Paul wishes to restrict this criminal behavior by prohibiting catalytic converters from being sold for scrap; now, therefore be it
RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Saint Paul does hereby ordain:
SECTION 2
Section 280.11 of the Saint Paul Legislative Code is hereby added to read as follows:
Section 280.11 - Sale of Catalytic Converters
No person or business may sell a used catalytic converter that is not attached to a vehicle. This section does not apply to a bona fide Automobile Repair Garage; whose license permits the installation, replacement, maintenance, or removal of catalytic converters.
The purchase of any catalytic converter must meet the recording requirements laid out in Minnesota Statute Section 325E.21, Subd. 1(b).
SECTION 3
Section 280.12 of the Saint Paul Legislative Code is hereby added to read as follows:
Section 280.12 - Purchase of Catalytic Converters
No person or business may purchase a used catalytic converter that is not attached to a vehicle unless the seller is a licensed business, whose license permits the installation, replacement, maintenance, or removal of catalytic converters.
SECTION 4
This Ordinance shall take force and be in effect thirty (30) days following passage, approval, and publication.