Vehicles: catalytic converters.

(1) Existing law licenses and regulates motor vehicle dealers and retail sellers. Existing law prohibits a motor vehicle dealer or retail seller from selling any motor vehicle that is not in compliance with the requirements enumerated in the Vehicle Code. The bill would authorize a dealer or retailer to impose a reasonable charge on the purchaser of a motor vehicle for complying with this requirement, as specified. This bill would prohibit a dealer or retail seller from selling a vehicle equipped with a catalytic converter unless the catalytic converter has been permanently marked with the vehicle identification number (VIN) of the vehicle to which it is attached with a label, as specified. The bill would authorize a dealer or retail seller to impose a reasonable charge on the purchaser of a motor vehicle for complying with this requirement, as specified. A violation of this provision would be punishable by specified fines. (2) This bill would also prohibit any person, except as exempted, from removing, altering, or obfuscating the VIN engraved, etched, or otherwise marked on a catalytic converter. A violation of these provisions would be punishable as a misdemeanor. (3) Existing law licenses and regulates automotive repair dealers, as defined. This bill would require any automotive repair dealer that installs or replaces a catalytic converter on a motor vehicle to ensure that the catalytic converter is permanently marked with the VIN of the vehicle on which it is being installed with a label or an engraving, etching, or marking, as specified, and would authorize the automotive repair dealer to charge the consumer a reasonable fee, as specified. A violation of this provision would be punishable by specified fines. (4) Existing law licenses and regulates smog check stations. This bill would require a smog check station, as part of any smog check performed on a motor vehicle, to inspect the exterior of the catalytic converter and notify the customer whether or not the catalytic converter is permanently marked, as specified, with the VIN. The bill would require a smog check station to perform only a visual inspection to satisfy this requirement. Failure by a smog check station to comply with this provision would be punishable as a misdemeanor. (5) By creating new crimes, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.