Fredericton, New Brunswick — New Brunswick-based auto recyclers should be prepared to provide comments on the province’s proposed amendments to its Salvage Dealers Licensing act; the province plans to amend the act in an effort to curb catalytic converter thefts.
According to the province, the proposed changes aim to “reduce criminal activity by no longer allowing salvage dealers to pay cash for commonly stolen items and by doubling the fines for violating any provision of the act or regulations.”
In amending the act, the government proposes to:
- Add catalytic converters and vehicle batteries to subsection 3(5) of the General Regulation which outlines commonly stolen items for which salvage dealers must record specific information. Items currently identified in the regulation are plumbers’ lead, brass valves, copper and lead flashing, and copper wire
- Require salvage dealers to collect additional information for items they buy that fall under subsection 3(5) of the General Regulation, including a government-issued I.D. of the seller, and the registration information of the car from which the catalytic converter originated
The provincial government has noted an increase in the theft of catalytic converters, particularly from vehicles belonging to businesses, not-for-profit organizations and individuals alike.
“We have modelled these changes after what is working in other Canadian jurisdictions,” said Kris Austin, public safety minister for New Brunswick. “Those with similar legislation have reported a significant decrease in the theft of catalytic converters.”
