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Visitor urges Kern County to consider ordinance closing "8-skate" loophole on catalytic-converter possession
Summary
A visitor presented an ordinance model used in Riverside County to make possession of catalytic converters without proof of ownership a crime; Supervisor Peters asked county counsel to review feasibility for Kern County.
Darryl Terrell, a community advocate from Moreno Valley, urged the Kern County Board of Supervisors on Feb. 11 to consider local ordinance language that would criminalize possession of catalytic converters without proof of ownership. He said state law AB 641 creates a loophole that allows thieves to possess up to eight detached catalytic converters without a criminal penalty.
"No matter you have 1 or 8, if you call with it without a proof of ownership, it's a crime," Terrell said, describing the Riverside County ordinance he called the "1 and you're done" approach. Terrell said his county and many cities adopted stronger local rules after he helped draft the approach there.
Supervisor Peters asked county counsel to review the proposal for Kern County. County counsel replied the office would evaluate the idea and report back when they had sorted out legal considerations. The board did not take a formal vote on an ordinance at the Feb. 11 meeting; the action recorded was a request for a legal review and follow-up report from counsel.
Terrell told the board the proposal aims to close what he described as a state-law enforcement gap and to provide consistent penalties across counties and cities. Board staff requested Terrell leave contact information with the CAO's office for follow-up.
