The theft of catalytic converters has become a big problem in Arizona, and State Representative Diego Espinoza (D-Tolleson) is sponsoring legislation to expand the law against it. Current law only prohibits buying or selling a used catalytic converter outside regular transactions; HB 2652 goes beyond that to make it illegal to possess, solicit, or advertise a used catalytic converter outside regular transactions. It would also mandate reporting sales to DPS and tracking.
HB 2652 looks very likely to pass, as 49 members of the House voted for it and only 10 Republicans voted against it. It passed the state Senate Committee on Transportation and Technology 9-0 and is now headed for the Senate Rules Committee.
State Rep. Jake Hoffman (R-Queen Creek), one of the legislators who voted No, told the Arizona Sun Times, “The legislation was too broad and too invasive. Our nation’s founding documents make it clear that government’s job is to protect the rights of the people, yet this bill infringes on individuals’ property rights and places a tremendous burden on individual citizens. I can appreciate the intent of this legislation; however, it is, at its core, an overreach by government that will inadvertently criminalize lawful citizens.”
Read the rest of the article at The Arizona Sun Times
