Motion seeks tougher penalties for catalytic converter thefts

Members of Calgary city council says stiffer penalties may be what it takes to curb catalytic converter thefts.

Members of Calgary city council says stiffer penalties may be what it takes to curb catalytic converter thefts.

A group of councillors are set to propose changes to the penalties associated with the crime that authorities say has spiked in the past few years.

The notice of motion, from Couns. Peter Demong, Courtney Walcott, Andre Chabot, Evan Spencer, Jasmine Mian, Richard Pootmans and Raj Dhaliwal, calls catalytic converter thefts "a major issue" in the city, as well as other Canadian centres.

It states that while the Calgary Police Service does not have the ability to arrest anyone in possession of a disconnected catalytic converter, and scrap dealers must obtain and record identification from all of their customers, more needs to be done as a deterrent.

The motion is directing administration to amend Calgary's business licence bylaw and bring forward recommendations to "regulate any person or business in possession of a catalytic converter."

"Including establishing a fine amount that is an effective deterrent and is proportionate to the severity of the problem of a stolen catalytic converter," the city's council agenda states.

It also directs administration to bring forward other "strategies or programs" to cut down on thefts.