PART Act
- Sponsor
- Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]
- Committees
- Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee (primary)
- Last action
- Jul 10, 2025
Bottom line
The PART Act seeks to deter catalytic converter theft by making stolen parts traceable, restricting their sale, and increasing federal criminal penalties for those involved in theft and trafficking.
What it actually does
This bill aims to combat catalytic converter theft by requiring new motor vehicles to have marked catalytic converters, establishing a federal grant program for VIN stamping on existing converters, imposing strict record-keeping and payment requirements for sales of these parts, and creating new federal criminal penalties for theft and trafficking. It mandates the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to revise regulations to include catalytic converters in theft prevention standards.
Proponents argue
Proponents argue that this bill directly addresses a significant and growing national crime problem that burdens vehicle owners with substantial repair costs and inconvenience. They contend that by enhancing traceability, disrupting the illicit market, and strengthening federal enforcement, the bill will significantly reduce catalytic converter thefts and protect consumers.
Opponents contend
Opponents or those with concerns might argue that the new regulations could impose undue burdens and costs on legitimate auto manufacturers, recyclers, and repair shops. They may also raise concerns about the federalization of what has traditionally been a state and local crime, and the potential for over-criminalization or unintended consequences related to payment restrictions.
The bill is moderately complex due to its technical amendments to existing statutes and regulatory mandates, but an informed reader can understand its core provisions within a reasonable timeframe.
Section 3
Mandatory Marking of Catalytic Converters on New Vehicles
This section requires the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to revise existing motor vehicle theft prevention standards. Within 180 days of enactment, NHTSA must issue proposed rules to include catalytic converters among parts that must be marked with an identification number. This marking must include a unique part identification number that is accessible by law enforcement through a database, applying to all new vehicles regardless of model year or manufacturing date after the regulations are finalized.
Supporters argue
Supporters argue that mandatory marking of catalytic converters on new vehicles is a crucial preventative measure. It makes stolen parts traceable, significantly deterring theft and aiding law enforcement in recovering stolen property and prosecuting offenders, thereby reducing the financial burden on consumers.
Critics contend
Critics or industry groups may contend that implementing new marking standards will increase manufacturing costs for new vehicles, which could ultimately be passed on to consumers. They might also raise concerns about the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of establishing and maintaining the required database.
Tradeoffs
The provision balances the goal of deterring theft and aiding law enforcement with the potential for increased regulatory burden and manufacturing costs for the automotive industry.
Section 4
Catalytic Converter VIN Stamping Grant Program
This section establishes a grant program, administered by the Secretary of Transportation, to fund covered activities related to catalytic converter identification. Eligible entities, including law enforcement, auto dealers, fleet owners, repair shops, and nonprofits, can receive grants to die or pin stamp identification numbers (VINs or unique part IDs linked to VINs) on catalytic converters of existing vehicles. This service must be provided at no cost to vehicle owners. The program prioritizes areas with high theft rates and vehicles most likely to be targeted.
Section 5
Enhanced Record Keeping and Traceable Payments for Catalytic Converter Sales
This section amends federal law to include catalytic converters as 'major parts' subject to strict sales regulations. It requires sellers of motor vehicle parts containing precious metals (including catalytic converters) to provide purchasers with their name, address, phone number, a photocopy of government-issued ID, and the VIN of the vehicle the part came from (or a unique part ID). This information must be retained for at least two years. The bill also makes it unlawful to sell or purchase catalytic converters with tampered markings and mandates that all sales and purchases be made with traceable forms of payment, explicitly prohibiting cash or digital asset transactions.
Section 6
New Federal Criminal Offenses for Catalytic Converter Theft and Trafficking
This section amends Title 18 of the U.S. Code to establish new federal crimes related to catalytic converter theft and trafficking. It makes it unlawful to steal or knowingly purchase a catalytic converter with the intent to distribute or sell it (or its precious metals) in interstate or foreign commerce, punishable by up to 5 years imprisonment. It also amends the definition of a 'chop shop' to explicitly include facilities that extract precious metals from unlawfully obtained motor vehicle parts, broadening the scope of federal prosecution for organized theft rings.
These subsections amend existing federal statutes (49 U.S.C. 33101 and 33106) to formally define 'catalytic converter' within the U.S. Code and to explicitly require catalytic converters to be marked, even if other parts of a vehicle line are exempt from marking requirements. This ensures the new regulations have a permanent and integrated statutory basis.
Section 3(c) and 3(d)
Why it matters:This is standard legislative practice to integrate new policy into the existing legal framework, ensuring consistency and enforceability.
Case for: Supporters would argue that these amendments are vital for the long-term effectiveness and legal soundness of the bill's marking requirements, ensuring they are not easily circumvented or challenged.
Case against: No specific opposition is typically raised against such technical integration, as it is a procedural necessity for effective legislation.
Estimated impact: Ensures the enforceability and permanence of catalytic converter marking requirements across all relevant vehicles.
This subsection amends 49 U.S.C. 33101(7) to explicitly add 'the catalytic converter' to the list of 'major parts' for which record retention requirements apply. This ensures that the new record-keeping rules in Section 5(b) are consistently applied to catalytic converters.
Section 5(a)
Why it matters:This is standard legislative practice to update existing definitions to reflect new policy inclusions, ensuring legal consistency.
Case for: This amendment is crucial for the comprehensive application of record-keeping requirements to catalytic converters, closing potential loopholes for illicit sales.
Case against: No specific opposition is typically raised against such definitional updates, as they are necessary for the bill's intended scope.
Estimated impact: Ensures that catalytic converters are explicitly covered by federal record-keeping laws for major vehicle parts.
This subsection amends the definition of 'chop shop' in 18 U.S.C. 2322(b) to explicitly include any facility where persons engage in activities like disassembling or storing unlawfully obtained motor vehicle parts 'in order to... extract any precious metal therefrom.' This broadens the federal definition to specifically target operations focused on catalytic converter precious metal extraction.
Section 6(d)
Why it matters:This is a targeted amendment to an existing criminal statute, designed to ensure that operations focused on precious metal extraction from stolen parts fall squarely under federal 'chop shop' laws.
Case for: Supporters argue this amendment is critical for federal law enforcement to effectively prosecute organized crime rings that dismantle stolen catalytic converters for their precious metals, closing a potential loophole in existing law.
Case against: No specific opposition is typically raised against clarifying definitions to target criminal enterprises, though general concerns about the scope of federal criminal law could be raised.
Estimated impact: Expands federal jurisdiction over operations that dismantle stolen catalytic converters for precious metals, enhancing the ability to prosecute organized theft.