AMENDED IN SENATE SEPTEMBER 1, 2023

AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 19, 2023

AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 20, 2023

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION

94

CHAPTER 847

Statutes of 2023

[ Approved by Governor October 13, 2023. Filed with Secretary of State October 13, 2023. ]

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.

Vote: majority   Appropriation: no   Fiscal committee: yes   Local program: yes

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

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 that has been added to a catalytic converter, or from knowingly possessing 3 or more catalytic converters that have been so altered.

A violation of these provisions would be punishable as a 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.

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) 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.

(c) This subdivision does not apply to either of the following:

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

SEC. 2.

No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIIIB 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 XIIIB of the California Constitution.