Requires sellers of catalytic converters to provide certain information to potential buyers; requires buyers to maintain records of such purchases; makes any violations a class A misdemeanor; imposes a fine of up to $5,000
STATE OF NEW YORK
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280
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE(Prefiled)
January 8, 2025
___________
Introduced by Sens. RHOADS, BORRELLO, OBERACKER -- read twice and
ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on
Consumer Protection
AN ACT to amend the general business law, in relation to certain
requirements regarding catalytic converter transactions
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The general business law is amended by adding a new section
2 392-k to read as follows:
3 § 392-k. Requirements regarding purchases of catalytic converters. 1.
4 For purposes of this section, "catalytic converter" shall mean an
5 exhaust emission control device which modifies exhaust gas from an
6 internal combustion engine by catalyzing a redox reaction.
7 2. In addition to any requirements of this chapter, an individual
8 attempting to sell a catalytic converter to a purchaser shall provide to
9 such purchaser the following information:
10 (a) the year, make, model and vehicle identification number for the
11 vehicle from which the catalytic converter was removed; and
12 (b) a copy of the certificate of title or other documentation indicat-
13 ing that the seller has an ownership interest in the vehicle described
14 in paragraph (a) of this subdivision, or where the seller is the owner
15 of a garage or repair shop and the catalytic converter was removed in
16 connection with a motor vehicle repair, the name and address of the
17 vehicle's owner and copies of all related invoices.
18 3. A purchaser shall not purchase a catalytic converter from a seller
19 who does not comply with the requirements of subdivision two of this
20 section.
21 4. A purchaser shall not purchase a catalytic converter unless such
22 purchaser determines that such catalytic converter is consistent with
23 the manufacturer's specifications for a catalytic converter from the
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00440-01-5
S. 280 2
1 vehicle which the seller provided information as required by paragraph
2 (a) of subdivision two of this section.
3 5. A purchaser shall keep an accurate electronic record of each
4 purchase of a catalytic converter made in the course of the purchaser's
5 business. Such record shall be in English and shall include any addi-
6 tional information required by this chapter.
7 6. A purchaser shall preserve each record required pursuant to subdi-
8 vision five of this section until the fifth anniversary date that such
9 record was made. Such records shall be available for inspection not
10 later than seventy-two hours after the date of purchase.
11 7. On request, a purchaser shall permit representatives of any local
12 police department or the state police to inspect all records required to
13 be kept pursuant to this section.
14 8. (a) No person shall sell to a private party, or to a dealer, a used
15 or refurbished catalytic converter without providing the purchaser the
16 information and documentation required by subdivision two of this
17 section.
18 (b) No dealer shall purchase and/or offer for sale in the state, a
19 used or refurbished catalytic converter for which it does not possess
20 the information required by subdivision two of this section.
21 9. Any person, firm, corporation or association who violates the
22 provisions of this section shall be subject to a civil penalty of not
23 more than five thousand dollars for each such violation.
24 10. A violation of this section shall be a class A misdemeanor.
25 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
