Resident urges Cerritos to study catalytic-converter unlawful-possession ordinance; council asks staff to review

During public comment the council heard from Daryl Terrell, who urged the City of Cerritos to adopt a local ordinance that would make unlawful possession of a stolen catalytic converter a crime even when state statute thresholds limit enforcement. Terrell said he successfully advocated similar local ordinances in several California counties and cities and asked Cerritos to follow suit.

Council response: Mayor Frank Yokoyama asked for consensus that city staff (City Manager Robert Lopez and Public Safety Manager Daryl Evans) review Terrell’s ordinance draft and compare it to an existing Artesia ordinance; councilmembers indicated concurrence on the record. City staff will evaluate the proposed ordinance and its compatibility with state law (AB 641 was discussed during public comment as the state statute that currently sets thresholds) and report back to council.

Why it matters: Catalytic-converter thefts are organized and often affect resident mobility, repair costs and insurance claims. Local ordinances that lower possession thresholds have been adopted by other cities to empower local law enforcement and prosecutors to pursue cases at lower thresholds than allowed under state statute; any local action requires legal review to ensure enforceability.

Next steps: Council asked staff to review the submitted ordinance draft and compare it to Artesia’s ordinance; staff will return with findings and recommended next steps, including potential drafting and public outreach.

Quotable: Terrell said, "Close the loophole in state law AB 641. Give your deputies the tools whether someone has 1 or 9 stolen catalytic converters."