Deputy Darren Almendarez Act

New federal crime for catalytic converters

This bill would make it a federal crime, for conduct in or affecting interstate commerce, to knowingly possess a catalytic converter taken from a motor vehicle or to knowingly buy one with intent to sell, distribute, or dispose of it or any precious metal removed from it. Each possession or purchase would be a separate offense. A first offense would carry a fine up to $100,000, up to 5 years in prison, or both. A second or later offense would carry a fine up to $200,000, up to 10 years in prison, or both. A person could raise an affirmative defense if they followed the state and local identification and record-keeping rules where the transaction occurred and met one of several exemptions, such as being the vehicle owner or lessee, acting in official duties for a manufacturer, distributor, or dealer, a repair worker who did not extract metals or remove ID marks, or a metal recycler who bought the converter from certain listed sellers. The bill would define key terms and take effect on enactment.