AN ACT RELATIVE TO THE SALE OF VEHICLE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS
Whereas, The deferred operation of this act would tend to defeat its purpose, which is to establish forthwith penalties for the unauthorized sale of old metals and catalytic converters, therefore it is hereby declared to be an emergency law, necessary for the immediate preservation of the public convenience.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
Chapter 266 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:-
Section 148. (a) For the purposes of this section, the term “catalytic converter” shall mean an exhaust-system component of an automobile, as defined in section 1 of chapter 90, containing a catalyst that causes conversion of harmful gases including, but not limited to, carbon monoxide and uncombusted hydrocarbons into mostly harmless products including, but not limited to, water and carbon dioxide.
(b)(1) Any person or entity licensed pursuant to sections 54, 54A, 56 or 58 of chapter 140 or section 1 of chapter 140B shall: (i)(A) not purchase, accept or acquire a catalytic converter from another person or entity unless the seller or offeror presents proof of identification in addition to a bill of sale or other legal document demonstrating ownership of the catalytic converter; and (B) preserve photocopies or digital images of the documentation; (ii) keep records of all catalytic converter transactions; and (iii) make available to the local chief of police or the chief’s designee any records created pursuant to this subsection upon request by the chief or the chief’s designee.
(2) The following shall be included in the records prepared pursuant to paragraph (1): (i) the date of transaction; (ii) the name, address, telephone number and signature of the seller or offeror of the catalytic converter; (iii) a photocopy or digital image of the seller’s or offeror’s photo identification; (iv) the license plate number of the vehicle used to transport the catalytic converter to the licensee; (v) a description of the catalytic converter; (vi) a photograph of the catalytic converter; (vii) photocopies or digital images of the bill of sale or other legal document demonstrating ownership by the seller or offeror; and (viii) the price paid by the licensee for each catalytic converter and the total transaction amount.
Records created pursuant to this subsection shall be maintained for 3 years from the date of the transaction.
(3) All licensees involved in the sale and purchase of a catalytic converter shall use a company check as a method of payment for transactions: (i) exceeding $250 per customer per day; or (ii) that include not less than 3 catalytic converters.
(4) This subsection shall not apply to licensees' acquisitions or purchases of whole motor vehicles.
(5) A person or entity licensed pursuant to sections 54, 54A, 56 or 58 of chapter 140 or section 1 of chapter 140B shall not enter into a transaction to purchase or receive a catalytic converter from any person who is not a commercial enterprise or owner of the vehicle from which the catalytic converter was removed.
(c) The police department having jurisdiction in the city or town where the licensee is located shall enforce the provisions of subsection (b) and may issue a civil fine to the license holder of $100 for each catalytic converter sold in violation of this section and: (i) $300 for the first offense; (ii) $550 for the second offense; and (iii) $700 for each subsequent violation. The municipal licensing board may suspend or revoke the licensee’s license for any violations of this section. If, after committing a violation under subsection (b), a licensee maintains the licensee’s license for 36 consecutive months without a violation, any new violation committed by the licensee thereafter shall be treated as a first offense.
Approved, January 5, 2023.