The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a new ordinance on Tuesday to address loopholes in the state’s law on stolen catalytic converters and set harsher penalties for thefts.

Cory Bantilan, chief of staff for Fifth District Supervisor Steve Lavagnino, started his presentation by showing a photo of a warehouse of stolen catalytic converters.

“This is down in the LA area, but what was most compelling to me is this photo was taken only a few weeks ago,” Bantilan said. “I think it shows that this continues to be a problem that affects us locally and throughout the country as well.”

State law criminalizes possession of nine or more detached catalytic converters but does not include penalties for someone holding eight or fewer converters.

Catalytic converters are regularly targeted for theft from vehicles because they contain rare metals and are easy to remove. Bantilan said one of the most popular targets for theft is Toyota Priuses.

The new ordinance will establish fines for people in possession of detached catalytic converters if they cannot prove ownership. The ordinance has exceptions for licensed recyclers and new or certified converters.

A first offense will include a $1,000 fine, up to a year in jail, or both. The second offense carries a $3,000 penalty, and a third offense could carry a $5,000 fine.

The gap in the state’s law was brought to the attention of the board by Daryl Terrell of Riverside County. Terrell spoke to the board during public comment in March 2025.

Terrell, who attended Tuesday’s meeting, thanked the board for the new ordinance.

Terrell has been traveling to different county and city governments to raise awareness about the gap in the law and encourage them to close it.

He told the board that one issue he encountered early on was that even when someone was caught with stolen converters, no victim could be attached to the crime.

“This is not about overpolicing. It’s not about mass incarceration. It’s about fair, equal justice under the law,” he told the board.

Eight other counties and 21 cities have passed more restrictive laws, according to a county staff report.

Lavagnino, whose office brought the item to the board, said that Terrell represents what the country is supposed to be about: citizen action.  

“I know this is a personal issue for you, and this is all on his own time too, and his own dime,” Lavagnino said. “So, thank you very much for being involved, and it was an honor for us to bring this forward.”