To stem a spate of thefts from Priuses and other cars, the Los Angeles City Council voted Tuesday to make it illegal to own a loose catalytic converter without proof of ownership.

By a vote of 8 to 4, the council passed an ordinance that would allow police to arrest anyone who has a catalytic converter not connected to a vehicle and cannot provide a receipt or other identifying information, such as documentation from an auto repair shop, spelling out possession.

Councilman John Lee, representing the northwestern San Fernando Valley, said the new ordinance would give the LAPD a much-needed tool at a time when victims of theft are struggling to find replacements for their stolen catalytic converters. The Times recently found that Prius owners often wait several months for a replacement part, a situation that often leaves them without a working car.

“Anyone who has had a catalytic converter stolen knows that the theft is just part of it,” Lee said. “Pay the bill, wait for the part, then wait for the repair and really have no idea when you’ll get your car back.”

Councilors Heather Hutt, Nithya Raman, Marqueece Harris-Dawson and Eunisses Hernandez voted against the measure. Hernandez, who represents part of the Eastside, said several laws are already on the books to address catalytic converter theft.

Hernandez said the city’s ordinance, which would treat possession of catalytic converters as a felony, would disproportionately target black, Latino, Indigenous and low-income people.

“A criminal conviction and imprisonment can permanently damage a person’s life, leading to collateral consequences such as the inability to find work, rent apartments and get a loan,” she said. “This puts people in a revolving door of desperation and recidivism.”

According to Lee, the city had about 8,000 reported catalytic converter thefts last year, up from 972 in 2018. Some Prius owners have seen the coveted car part, used to control emissions, stolen two, three or even four times.

Hernandez and Councilman Hugo Soto-Martinez said a better strategy for the city would be to help residents attach cages or other anti-theft devices to their cars to protect their catalytic converters.

Councilor Marketplace

Harris-Dawson said the ordinance would see more black and Latino drivers stopped and questioned by officers about what’s in their cars.

Punishing people for owning loose catalytic converters “didn’t help anyone,” he said.

“If someone gets something stolen, the city should do everything they can to make sure they are made whole so as not to punish another person,” Harris-Dawson added.

Soto-Martinez also opposed the ordinance, but left the meeting before the council cast its vote.

The city council initially voted in favor of the ordinance last month. Because it was not unanimous,

Councillors

had to pick it up again

on

Tuesday. Eight votes was the minimum needed for approval.

Under the regulation, any catalytic converter found without proper documentation would qualify as a separate violation. Those convicted of violating the ordinance face up to six months in prison or a fine of up to $1,000.

The move has received support from Sherman Oaks, Studio City, and Westside Neighborhood Councils. LAPD officials also supported the ordinance, saying it would make it easier for officers to make arrests in cases where they find a car with multiple catalytic converters but haven’t determined where it was stolen

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