Report to Mayor and City Council
Tuesday, July 05, 2022
Discussion
SUBJECT:
Title
CONSIDER INTRODUCTION OF AN ORDINANCE DEFINING AND PROHIBITING THE UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF DETACHED CATALYTIC CONVERTERS IN THE CITY OF CARSON (CITY COUNCIL)
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I. SUMMARY
The ordinance proposed for introduction would make it unlawful in the City of Carson to possess a catalytic converter that is not attached to a vehicle, unless the possessor has valid proof of lawful possession of the catalytic converter. The ordinance is designed to help combat theft of catalytic converters from vehicles, and similar ordinances have been adopted by numerous cities for this purpose.
II. RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
TAKE the following action:
1. INTRODUCE for first reading, by title only, Ordinance No. 22-2215, "AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARSON, CALIFORNIA, ADDING A NEW SECTION 4149 (UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF A DETACHED CATALYTIC CONVERTER) TO CHAPTER 1 (PROHIBITED CONDUCT - OFFENSES) OF ARTICLE IV (PUBLIC PEACE) OF THE CARSON MUNICIPAL CODE ESTABLISHING REGULATIONS DEFINING AND PROHIBITING THE UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF DETACHED CATALYTIC CONVERTERS IN THE CITY OF CARSON."
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III. ALTERNATIVES
TAKE any other action the Council deems appropriate, subject to compliance with applicable law.
IV. BACKGROUND
A catalytic converter is an exhaust emission control device that converts toxic gases and pollutants in exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine into less-toxic pollutants by catalyzing a redox reaction. Catalytic converters are usually used with internal combustion engines fueled by gasoline or diesel, including lean-burn engines. A catalytic converter is a valuable part of any non-electric manufactured automobile.
The citizens of Carson experienced 643 catalytic converter thefts from automobiles during the period of January 1, 2019 to May 31, 2022. Catalytic converter thefts are occurring at a high rate because individuals are incentivized to commit s...
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