Bill Text: CA AB1519 | 2023-2024 | Regular Session | Amended

California Assembly Bill 1519

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

Bill Title: Vehicles: catalytic converters.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Passed) 2023-10-13 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 847, Statutes of 2023. [AB1519 Detail]

Download: California-2023-AB1519-Amended.html

Amended IN Assembly April 19, 2023

Amended IN Assembly March 20, 2023

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill

No. 1519

Introduced by Assembly Member Bains
(Coauthors: Assembly Members Davies and Sanchez)

February 17, 2023

An act to add Section 10753 to the Vehicle Code, relating to vehicles.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 1519, as amended, Bains. 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 ~~engraved, etched, or otherwise marked on~~ that has been added to a catalytic converter, or from knowingly possessing a 3 or more catalytic ~~converter~~ converters that ~~has~~ have been so altered.

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

Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: YES

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

Section 10753 is added to the Vehicle Code, to read:

10753.
~~(a)A person shall not remove, alter, or obfuscate any vehicle identification number or other unique marking that has been added to a catalytic converter.~~
~~(b)A person shall not knowingly possess any catalytic converter that had a vehicle identification number or other unique marking removed, altered, or obfuscated in violation of subdivision (a).~~

10753.

(a) Any person who removes, alters, or obfuscates any vehicle identification number or other unique marking that has been added to a catalytic converter is guilty of a misdemeanor.

(b) Any person who knowingly possesses three or more catalytic converters that have the vehicle identification number or other unique marking removed, altered, or obfuscated is guilty of a misdemeanor.

(1) A person who is removing, altering, or obfuscating a vehicle identification number or other unique marking in order to apply a new vehicle identification number or unique marking because the catalytic converter is being lawfully installed on a different vehicle.

(2) A person that is disassembling, smelting, or otherwise permanently destroying a catalytic converter lawfully in their possession.

~~(d)(1)A violation of subdivision (a) is punishable as a misdemeanor.~~
(2)A violation of subdivision (b) is punishable as a misdemeanor if the person is in possession of three or more catalytic converters that have the vehicle identification number or other unique marking removed, altered, or obfuscated in violation of subdivision (a).

SEC. 2.

No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution.