Santa Barbara County could soon crack down on catalytic converter thefts by imposing new fines and a chance of jail time.
The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors will vote on a new ordinance on Tuesday that could establish harsher penalties for thieves, a move supporters say will address gaps in state laws.
State law criminalizes possessing nine or more detached catalytic converters. This means someone can have eight or fewer converters without being penalized.
Under the new ordinance, law enforcement could fine people in possession of detached catalytic converters if they cannot prove ownership. The ordinance will have an exception 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.
Raquel Zick, public information officer for the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office, said the office does not have a stand-alone classification for catalytic converter thefts.
The Sheriff’s Office categorizes them as “theft of motor vehicle parts or accessories.” This kind of theft covers any accessory attached to the interior or exterior of a car.
Sheriff data shows that theft of motor vehicle accessories spiked in 2022 with 834 incidents. There were 813 incidents in 2021.
The number of thefts has dropped in recent years. The Sheriff’s Office documented 291 reports in 2025.
Fifth District Supervisor Steve Lavagnino’s office submitted the proposal to the board.
Cory Bantilan, chief of staff for Lavagnino, said the idea originally came after someone addressed the issue during public comment.
The speaker, Daryl Terrell of Riverside County, addressed the board in March 2025 about drafting stricter laws for catalytic converter thefts.
“He’s been on like a one-man mission across the state, mostly in Southern (and Central) California,” Bantilan said. “He’s kind of working his way up. He’s gotten this passed in (multiple) cities and counties across Southern California.”
About eight other counties and 21 cities have passed more restrictive laws, according to a county staff report.
Bantilan said the Fifth District Office took the idea and ran with it. The ordinance is similar to a version that was previously adopted in Ventura County.
“It provides another tool to law enforcement that currently doesn’t exist,” Bantilan said.
The Board of Supervisors meets in Santa Barbara at 9 a.m. on Tuesday. The meeting will be held at the County Administration Building Board Hearing Room at 105 E. Anapamu St. Members of the public can attend and comment in person or remotely via Zoom. View the meeting calendar and agenda here.
