A Florida Senate committee Tuesday approved a proposal to curb thefts of vehicle catalytic converters, including valuable metals.
The vote by the Senate Fiscal Policy Committee positioned the bill (SB 306), sponsored by Sen. Jim Boyd, R-Bradenton, to go to the full Senate.
The House version of the bill (HB 185) is ready to go to the full House.
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Catalytic converters include precious metals such as palladium and platinum. Supporters of the bills say that thieves quickly cut catalytic converters off vehicles and sell the devices because of the metals.
The bills include creating third-degree felony charges for “knowingly” purchasing, possessing or selling stolen catalytic converters.
Also, they would create an “inference” that people with two or more detached catalytic converters knew or should have known they were stolen or fraudulently obtained.
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