Bill Overview
Title: PART Act
Description: PART Act This bill establishes requirements for motor vehicles related to catalytic converters and other motor vehicle parts that contain precious metals. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration must revise the motor vehicle theft prevention standard for new motor vehicles to include catalytic converters among the parts that require an inscribed or affixed identifying number. Additionally, the Department of Transportation must establish a grant program through which law enforcement agencies and other entities can stamp vehicle identification numbers onto catalytic converters of existing vehicles. The bill establishes retention requirements for the purchase of motor vehicle parts that contain precious metals. It also sets forth criminal penalties for the theft of catalytic converters or any precious metals removed from a vehicle.
Sponsors: Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]
Target Audience
Population: People who own vehicles with catalytic converters
Estimated Size: 290000000
- Catalytic converters are valuable due to the precious metals they contain, and this has led to an increase in thefts.
- Nearly all vehicles have catalytic converters, so this legislation pertains to a wide range of vehicle owners.
- The legislation will impact vehicle manufacturers, as they will need to implement new standards for identifying numbers on catalytic converters.
- Law enforcement agencies will be impacted due to the establishment of grant programs aimed at stamping identification numbers.
- Businesses involved in the sale of vehicle parts that contain precious metals will be affected by new retention requirements and criminal penalties.
- Globally, millions of vehicles on the road have catalytic converters and could be affected by similar legislation if adopted in other regions.
Reasoning
- The policy targets a broad segment of the U.S. population because nearly all vehicles are equipped with catalytic converters, making them susceptible to theft, impacting vehicle owners nationwide.
- Given the large base of vehicle owners, the policy will primarily focus on crime prevention and vehicle security.
- The legislation also touches upon manufacturers and businesses in the automotive industry which deal with catalytic converters and parts containing precious metals due to the new requirements for inscribed identifying numbers.
- Urban areas with higher vehicle theft rates may see a more significant effect, both positively on crime reduction and negatively on compliance costs.
- The cost of inscribing or affixing identification numbers and stamping existing cars will directly impact vehicle manufacturers and aftermarket businesses.
- It will necessitate collaboration among law enforcement, vehicle manufacturers, and metal recycling businesses.
Simulated Interviews
Auto Mechanic (Houston, TX)
Age: 35 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy is a good idea because it will reduce thefts and hassles for car owners.
- However, it will add some initial cost and paperwork burden to my shop to comply with any new tracking or retention requirements.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Software Engineer (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm supportive of measures that can secure vehicle parts, especially since I've heard of a few thefts around my neighborhood.
- It's also nice to know there may be decreased chances of theft with VIN stamping.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Auto Parts Supplier (Detroit, MI)
Age: 43 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While I understand the reasoning behind this, the policy adds financial burden and operational changes to my business.
- It might mean more security if fewer parts are stolen, but implementing inventory tracking and metal retention will be costly.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Retired (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 58 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm hopeful that this policy will cut down on thefts, which could lower my insurance premiums.
- However, I'm retired and worried about potential costs to update my vehicles.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Law Student (New York, NY)
Age: 24 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Friends and family who own cars will likely feel more secure, but I don't see an immediate impact on my daily life.
- It's an interesting legal change, though.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Law Enforcement Officer (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 31 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy will help reduce thefts and make it easier to trace stolen property.
- It will also increase cooperation between agencies, which is beneficial for public safety.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Public School Teacher (Miami, FL)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope the policy leads to fewer thefts, which can increase neighborhood safety and decrease costs associated with theft-related damages.
- I do worry about potential costs to inscribe my vehicle.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Startup Entrepreneur (Austin, TX)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- As someone planning to purchase a vehicle, I like knowing that such initiatives could protect my investment in the future.
- It shows that these matters are being taken seriously.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Metal Recyclist (Chicago, IL)
Age: 62 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy will likely affect my business, as we need to verify the sources of the metals more rigorously.
- There will be additional compliance burdens and possibly increased costs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Car Enthusiast and Blogger (Denver, CO)
Age: 46 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I appreciate efforts to protect catalytic converters from being stolen, as they’re a huge cost in classic cars.
- It's a step forward, providing peace of mind amongst enthusiasts and daily drivers alike.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $130000000 (Low: $100000000, High: $160000000)
Year 2: $150000000 (Low: $120000000, High: $180000000)
Year 3: $170000000 (Low: $140000000, High: $200000000)
Year 5: $190000000 (Low: $160000000, High: $220000000)
Year 10: $200000000 (Low: $170000000, High: $230000000)
Year 100: $300000000 (Low: $260000000, High: $340000000)
Key Considerations
- The coverage and extent to which the identifying number stamping is adopted by manufacturers and enforcement bodies.
- The capacity and willingness of law enforcement to utilize the grant program effectively.
- The valuation of catalytic converters in terms of theft deterrence effectiveness post-implementation.