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U.S. Senators Introduce Bill to Combat Catalytic Converter Theft Nationwide U.S. Sens. Amy Klobuchar, D-MN, and Ron Wyden, D-OR, introduced legislation to combat the rise in catalytic converter theft. The Preventing Auto Recycling Theft (PART) Act would ensure law enforcement can more effectively address these thefts by marking each converter with a traceable identification number and establishing converter theft as a criminal offense.
locate stolen car parts, we will be one step closer in the fight to end catalytic converter theft.” Catalytic converters are used to reduce the potency of toxic emissions from an internal combustion engine and required for vehicle compliance with the Clean Air Act. According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, catalytic converter thefts rose by more than 325% from 2019 to 2020. Replacing these parts imposes significant financial costs to vehicle owners, often between $500 to $2,300, and can even result in a total loss to the vehicle. The PART Act would:
“Throughout the country, we’ve seen an alarming increase in catalytic converter theft. These converters can be easily taken from unattended cars but are difficult and expensive for car owners to replace,” said Klobuchar. “By making catalytic converter theft a criminal offense and ensuring each converter can be easily tracked, our legislation would provide law enforcement officers with the tools and resources they need to crack down on these crimes.” “The theft of catalytic converters hurts the pocketbooks of working families and small business owners already struggling with rising costs,” said Wyden. “By strengthening local law enforcement’s ability to
Require new vehicles to have a Vehicle Identification number (VIN) stamped onto the converter to allow law enforcement officers to link stolen parts to the vehicle from which they originate Create a grant program through which entities can stamp VIN numbers onto catalytic converters of existing vehicles Improve record keeping standards for purchasers of used catalytic converters Establish enforceability of laws around catalytic converter theft by codifying these crimes as a criminal offense The bill has received the endorsement of the National Automobile Dealers Association, the American Truck l CONTINUED ON PAGE 18
41 YEARS
Vol. 12 / Issue 4 / Janauary 2023
REGIONAL NEWS
Ford Breaks Ground on $5.8B Blue Oval SK Battery Park in Kentucky By Joey Klender Teslarati
Ford has officially broken ground on its $5.8 billion Blue Oval SK Battery Park in Glendale, KY, where the automaker’s joint venture with SK will produce 5,000 new jobs in the region when it begins production in 2025. Ford announced Dec. 5 the Blue Oval SK Battery Park is officially under construction, with two massive battery manufacturing plants capable of more than 80 gigawatt hours of production annually at the forefront of the project. The plant is expected to help increase Ford’s production output
of electric vehicles to 2 million units per year, but will require a serious headcount once production gets moving. Five thousand new workers will fill the buildings at Blue Oval
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REGIONAL NEWS
Nearly $10 Million Returned to Consumers Harmed by Illinois Auto Group’s Junk Fees The Federal Trade Commission is sending payments totaling more than $9.8 million to consumers harmed by Illinois-based Napleton Automotive Group’s junk fees and discriminatory practices. The agency is sending 66,355 checks, averaging $147 each. Recipients should cash checks within 90 days. Consumers who have questions about their refund should call the refund administrator, Epiq, at 1-888-691-6050. The FTC never requires people to pay money or
provide account information to get a refund. The FTC and the State of Illinois sued Napleton Automotive Group in March, alleging Napleton employees were sneaking illegal junk fees for unwanted “add-ons” onto vehicle purchases and discriminating against Black consumers. According to the joint complaint, eight of the company’s dealerships illegally tacked on junk fees for unwanted “add-on” products such as payment insurance and paint protection, l CONTINUED ON PAGE 13
INSIDE THIS ISSUE 12
Columnist Mike Anderson: Are You Itemizing Vehicle Prep Steps Necessary Prior to ADAS Calibrations?
24
Columnist Abby Andrews: Future Technology Presents Liability Concerns for Collision Repairers
22
Columnist Stacey Phillips: OEConnection’s RepairLogic Platform Helps Shops Find Accurate OEM Information
14
Columnist John Yoswick: How to Get Entry-Level Collision Repair Techs Productive Quickly
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