Police believe Cox's arrest, and the arrests of his accomplices, may help reduce the number of catalytic converter thefts in central Ohio, but until the law changes, thieves will continue to crawl under cars in search of a quick score. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. To stay in compliance with the State of Ohios smog check requirements, Ohio-registered drivers must get their vehicles to pass a, DMV & Emissions Testing Locations in Ohio. Ohio bill aims to stop theft of catalytic converters Next to the VECI label should be a routing diagram that shows where on the engine the emission control devices are located. "He's one of the first ones that has found this loophole," Gilbert said. Knowing your states catalytic converter laws will help you pass your inspection and avoid costly fines. , drive the vehicle to a vehicle testing location with: To find out further details about vehicle testing procedures in Ohio, check out the, Besides test waivers, vehicle owners may be eligible for a repair waiver as well as certain types of extensions if their vehicle is not already exempt. Ohio already has several laws on the books that address theft and tampering. The official version of acts signed by the Governor are available from the Secretary of State's Office in the Continental Plaza, 180 East Broad St., Columbus. Division of Air Pollution Control March 20 Ohios How to keep your catalytic converter safe, Now that youre in the know on Ohios catalytic converter laws (and what you can do to keep yours in good shape), make sure your cat-con is protected against theft by taking these simple measures:. . . Ohios state laws arent the only ones you need to watch out for. If a vehicle fails at least one smog inspection and the vehicle owner has made attempts to get emissions-related repairs completed, an Ohio E-check facility may provide a waiver to the vehicle owner. New Residents must get their vehicles VIN number inspected as a requirement for obtaining a first-time Ohio vehicle registration. catalytic converters Ohio law also doesn't require people to prove ownership when selling the devices. (4) No scrap metal dealer shall purchase or receive any special purchase article without complying with division (C) and (I) of this section and division (B), (C), or (D) of section 4737.041 of the Revised Code. Carving your license plate number (or even your VIN) into your catalytic converter makes it traceable to youand therefore less desirable for resale. Detective Gilbert said Cox's illegal enterprise was able to flourish because of a loophole in Ohio law that allows anyone who forms a business with the Secretary of State's Office to sell as many catalytic converters as they want. Name Email Website. Catalytic Converter Laws by State 2023 You can install an alarm, metal cage, or cat strap around your catalytic converter to make it difficult (if not impossible!) A recission or damages may be sought from the previous owner if the vehicle was titled in Ohio at the time of the purchase. House Bill 408 The Legislative Service Commission staff updates the Revised Code on an ongoing basis, as it completes its act review of enacted legislation. Columbus man exploits Ohio loophole to steal catalytic According to Ohio Revised Code Section 3704.16, tampering means "to remove permanently, bypass, defeat, or render inoperative, in whole or in part, any emission control system that is installed on or in a motor vehicle." If your vehicle is misfiring when it is idling, make sure to get this addressed before taking the test, If a vehicles battery is brand new, drive the vehicle for a couple of days before taking it to get an On-Board Diagnostics test so as to allow the OBD system to reset, Make sure the vehicles oil is not dirty. On 9-2-2021, Representative Bob Young, introduced House Bill 408 which makes it illegal to sell a catalytic converter without proof of ownership. Another option is to purchase a commercially produced marker kit which comes with a label that provides an identification number onto each converter. Updated: 5:40 PM EDT April 29, 2022. |. Section 4737.045 Young introduced House Bill 408 in September of 2021 to make it harder for criminals to sell bundles of catalytic converters. If your car came with a catalytic converter youre looking at fines of up to $10,000 for removing it. For $50 or less, Amazon and auto parts stores now sell battery-powered catalytic converter alarms that you strap on the converter. If it is not, tighten it and drive around to see if the light goes off. So, for example, if you own a 1998 model car you must have it tested on an even-numbered year such as 2014. Using Way.com for insurance is quick and simple. (F)(1) No scrap metal dealer shall purchase or receive any metal articles, and no bulk merchandise container dealer shall purchase or receive any bulk merchandise containers, from a person who refuses to show the dealer the person's personal identification card, or who refuses to allow the dealer to take a photograph of the person as required under division (I) of this section or of the person or container as required under division (B) of section 4737.012 of the Revised Code. The City of Toledo, in Lucas County, Ohio, has a population of 287,000. The replacement converter is installed in the same location as the OE converter (the front face location will be within 3" compared to the OE). 4. If your vehicles On-Board Diagnostic (OBDII) system is showing trouble codes, make sure to get them fixed by a certified emissions mechanic. Damage amounts may be awarded by a judge if the buyer decides to file a motion in court. Laws The bills catalytic converter Individuals, as well as car dealerships, muffler shops, and repair facilities, are prohibited from tampering with a motor vehicle. If the converter is defective, you may be entitled to free warranty repairs. If a vehicle registered in one of the above 7 counties falls into one of the following categories, it must get pass an emissions test. I was just in an accident and don't know what to do. In Ohio (as in most states), you must have a catalytic converter in all cars 1975 and newer. I've been driving around my new Camaro and just remembered I still haven't gotten insurance. Until the registry developed by the director pursuant to section 4737.045 of the Revised Code is operational, a dealer shall maintain the record for each article purchased or received for a minimum period of one year after the date the dealer purchased or received the article, except that the dealer shall maintain the photograph required under division (I) of this section only for a period of sixty days after the dealer purchased or received the article. Research your vehicle manufacturers recalls Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs), and warranties before getting any repairs done. Anti-Tampering Program - Ohio Antique and collector vehicles are also permanently exempt from each test as well as other types of vehicles that are over five times, motorhomes, RVs, and motorcycles. You may take many steps to avoid even stealing your catalytic converter. . Thieves removing catalytic converters from cars across NE Ohio Webcatalytic converter removal law: columbus ohio catalytic converter theft: epa catalytic converter laws: ny catalytic converter laws: Police: Columbus man exploits loophole in Ohio law to steal 1,100+ catalytic converters Video Answer. House Bill 408 | 134th General Assembly | Ohio Legislature (2) "Special purchase article" means all of the following: (b) Cable, wire, electrical components, and other equipment used in providing cable service or any utility service, including, but not limited to, copper or aluminum coverings, housings, or enclosures related thereto; (c) Grave markers, sculptures, plaques, and vases made out of metal, the appearance of which suggests that the articles have been obtained from a cemetery; (d) Guard rails for bridges, highways, and roads; highway and street signs; street light poles and fixtures; worker access hole covers, water meter covers, and other similar types of utility access covers; traffic directional and control signs and light signals, metal marked with the name of a political subdivision of the state, and other metal articles that are purchased and installed for use upon authorization of the state or any political subdivision of the state; (e) Historical, commemorative, and memorial markers and plaques made out of metal; (f) Four-wheel metal carts, commonly referred to as "grocery carts," that are generally used by individuals to collect and transport consumer goods while shopping; (g) Four-wheel metal carts, commonly referred to as "metal bossies," that are used to transport or merchandise food products that are stored in crates, shells, or trays; (h) Railroad material, including journal brasses, rail spikes, rails, tie plates, frogs, and communication wire; (i) Metal trays, merchandise containers, or similar transport containers used by a product producer, distributor, retailer, or an agent of a product producer, distributor, or retailer as a means for the bulk transportation, storage, or carrying of retail containers of milk, baked goods, eggs, or bottled beverage products; (j) "Burnt wire," which is any coated metal wire that has been smelted, burned, or melted thereby removing the manufacturer's or owner's identifying marks. You may contact Ohio EPA's Mobile Sources Section at 330-963-4479 for further information about these manuals. Under state law, it is illegal to knowingly sell, lease, rent or operate a vehicle in a tampered condition. Detective Gilbert said the law could be stronger by eliminating cash payments to scrapers. Well-maintained vehicles that are kept in their original configuration emit a small amount of pollutants. You can go to the following website to see what a VECIlabel looks like: https://www.epa.gov/importing-vehicles-and-engines/locating-vehicle-emissions-label. All cars made after 1975 and sold in Ohio must have a catalytic converter. Check out our, DMV & Emissions Testing Locations in Toledo, Ohio. In addition, you could go to jail for up to 180 days or pay a $1,000 fine. In that case, having comprehensive coverage could mean the difference between filing a claim and paying out of pocket for a replacement, which could cost you more than $2,000. The law enforcement agency also shall provide the list to the department of public safety, in an electronic format in accordance with rules adopted by the director, for inclusion in the registry created in section 4737.045 of the Revised Code. Poor maintenance can result in corroded exhaust systems and converters, deteriorated hot air tubes, as well as clogged air filters. 5 Symptoms That Your CAT Need An Unclog, Will your car work if the catalytic converter is stolen, Will you car still run with a bad catalytic converter, Will your car pass emissions with a hollow catalytic converter, federal emissions law catalytic converter. The Ohio DMV provides some residents with waivers and exemptions from testing. Now, Im saving an extra $100 every six months! Tony C. . "When you can walk into a scrap yard and be issued $1,500 cash it makes it virtually untraceable for law enforcement. Switching your insurance is just as effortlessJerry takes care of the forms and phone calls, and can even help you cancel your old policy!, So dont lose coverage (or your catalytic converter)find savings with Jerry.. Young Introduces HB 408, Banning the Sale of Stolen Catalytic Check out our, DMV & Emissions Testing Location in Lorain, Ohio, The City of Toledo, in Lucas County, Ohio, has a population of, . You can install an alarm, Nonetheless, you need to have it replaced as soon as possible, as, or breaking your cars emission controls, Cars most targeted by catalytic converter thieves, Penalties for driving without a catalytic converter, Intentionally tampering with, disabling, or removing your cars catalytic converter has serious consequences, including a, You can get a ticket if youre driving without your cat-con because it was stolen or needs repair. for thefts to make off with your cat-con. It is a good idea to have the buyer sign a statement agreeing that he or she intends to drive the vehicle only on race courses.