Umberg Introduces Extension Measure Cracking Down on Illegal Vehicle Dismantling and Catalytic Converter Theft

(Sacramento, CA) – Senator Thomas J. Umberg (D-Santa Ana) announced the introduction of Senate Bill 359 which extends the Vehicle Dismantling Strike Team for a period of three years.  The measure attacks California’s recent massive spike in catalytic converter thefts.

“Unlicensed auto dismantling is an environmental justice, economic, and public health issue,” said Senator Umberg. “SB 359 is an extension of the important work tackled by my colleague Assemblymember Miguel Santiago (D-Los Angeles) and myself in previous years. We owe it to our communities to be more responsible, as a state, in how we regulate these illegal activities.”  

A significant spike in environmental and public health damage to inner cities attributed to illegal auto dismantling resulted in urgent action from the Legislature in 2016, which resulted in the signing of AB 1858 (Santiago), followed by SB 366 (Umberg) in 2021. These efforts required the DMV to coordinate enforcement and compliance activity related to unlicensed vehicle dismantling with other state agencies as a part of the Vehicle Dismantling Industry Strike Team. Since then, there have been over 100 operations throughout California, which have resulted in the identification of an astonishing 1,232 unlicensed dismantlers.

Unfortunately, the underground economy in California continues to be a huge dilemma facing the auto recycling industry. It is estimated that at least 40% of all end-of-life vehicles are being processed through a thriving underground economy of unlicensed and unregulated auto dismantlers. SB 359 implements the Strike Team’s recommendations to maintain momentum on this issue by extending the Team’s work for three more years.

The vehicles processed through unregulated operations and dismantlers represent nearly $100 million in uncollected sales taxes and fees, over 2 million unaccounted-for tires, and over 2 million gallons of unaccounted-for hazardous fluids along with materials that require special handling, such as, lead acid batteries, mercury switches, catalytic convertors, coolant, lithium-ion batteries, tires, and freon.

In fact, unlicensed auto dismantlers play a critical role in the proliferation of catalytic converter thefts throughout California. Thieves target the vehicle exhaust emission control device because it contains precious metals and can be scrapped for quick profit. About 1,600 catalytic converters are stolen per month in California, per a 2021 presentation from the state’s Bureau of Automotive Repair. Certain cars like the first-generation Prius and the Ford F-250 tend to be targeted more than others because their catalytic converters are known to contain more precious metal. Notably, between January 2022 and January 2024, the Strike Team confiscated 1,094 catalytic converters from unlicensed auto dismantlers and launched 27 related cases.

“For some reason, people tend to think that auto and auto parts thieves aren’t smart,” said Senator Umberg.  “The reality, however, is that catalytic converter theft can be quite lucrative – but only if aided and abetted by illegal auto dismantlers like those targeted by the Vehicle Dismantling Industry Strike Team.”

The Senator believes the extended lifetime of the Strike Team will allow him to further cement his resolve to tackling catalytic converter theft in California.  “This is really just the second step for all of us – there is much more that we, as a state, can be doing to protect consumers and automobile owners,” noted Senator Umberg.

For questions about SB 359 or any of the Senator’s efforts to protect car owners in California, people are encouraged to contact his Capitol Office at (916) 651-4034.

The fact sheet for SB 359 is attached, and the measure will be heard in policy committee(s) in the coming weeks.

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Senator Thomas Umberg represents the 34th Senate District which includes the cities of Santa Ana, Anaheim, Long Beach, Fullerton, Orange, La Habra, Placentia, South Whittier, and East Whittie. Umberg is a retired U.S. Army Colonel, and former federal prosecutor. He and his wife,

Brigadier General Robin Umberg, USA (ret.), live in Orange County.