Washington criminal charge
Catalytic converters in Washington
Catalytic converters is a criminal offense under Washington law, defined by RCW 9A.82.180. Its classification is not fixed: Washington assigns a different penalty class depending on the circumstances of the offense. The class that applies — and the sentencing range that follows from it — depends on which statutory variant fits the facts.
Defined by RCW 9A.82.180.
What is the penalty for catalytic converters in Washington?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | up to 364 days (Removing, altering, or obliterating VIN marking (first offense) — A person intentionally removes, alters, or obliterates the last eight digits of the originating vehicle identification number from a detached catalytic converter, unless the enhanced penalty under (3)(b) applies.; statutory maximum, county jail (RCW 9A.20.021(2)); offenses outside Title 9A carry the same default under RCW 9.92.020 unless the offense fixes its own penalty) | discretionary | RCW 9A.20.021 |
| Fine | up to $5,000 (Removing, altering, or obliterating VIN marking (first offense) — A person intentionally removes, alters, or obliterates the last eight digits of the originating vehicle identification number from a detached catalytic converter, unless the enhanced penalty under (3)(b) applies.; statutory maximum, adult offenders (RCW 9A.20.021(5))) | discretionary | RCW 9A.20.021 |
| Jail / prison | up to 5 years (Removing, altering, or obliterating VIN marking (repeat offense) — A person intentionally removes, alters, or obliterates the last eight digits of the original vehicle identification number from a detached catalytic converter and has a prior conviction under this subsection.; statutory maximum (RCW 9A.20.021(1)(c)); the sentence actually imposed is set by the Sentencing Reform Act standard range (RCW 9.94A.510) from the offense's seriousness level and the defendant's offender score) | discretionary | RCW 9A.20.021 |
| Fine | up to $10,000 (Removing, altering, or obliterating VIN marking (repeat offense) — A person intentionally removes, alters, or obliterates the last eight digits of the original vehicle identification number from a detached catalytic converter and has a prior conviction under this subsection.; statutory maximum, adult offenders (RCW 9A.20.021(5)); unless a different maximum is specifically established by statute) | discretionary | RCW 9A.20.021 |
| Jail / prison | up to 364 days (Possession/sale of six or fewer unmarked converters — A person who is not a licensed scrap processor or vehicle wrecker knowingly possesses, sells, or offers for sale six or fewer detached catalytic converters that fail to comply with marking requirements.; statutory maximum, county jail (RCW 9A.20.021(2)); offenses outside Title 9A carry the same default under RCW 9.92.020 unless the offense fixes its own penalty) | discretionary | RCW 9A.20.021 |
| Fine | up to $5,000 (Possession/sale of six or fewer unmarked converters — A person who is not a licensed scrap processor or vehicle wrecker knowingly possesses, sells, or offers for sale six or fewer detached catalytic converters that fail to comply with marking requirements.; statutory maximum, adult offenders (RCW 9A.20.021(5))) | discretionary | RCW 9A.20.021 |
| Jail / prison | up to 5 years (Possession/sale of seven or more unmarked converters — A person who is not a licensed scrap processor or vehicle wrecker knowingly possesses, sells, or offers for sale seven or more detached catalytic converters that fail to comply with marking requirements.; statutory maximum (RCW 9A.20.021(1)(c)); the sentence actually imposed is set by the Sentencing Reform Act standard range (RCW 9.94A.510) from the offense's seriousness level and the defendant's offender score) | discretionary | RCW 9A.20.021 |
| Fine | up to $10,000 (Possession/sale of seven or more unmarked converters — A person who is not a licensed scrap processor or vehicle wrecker knowingly possesses, sells, or offers for sale seven or more detached catalytic converters that fail to comply with marking requirements.; statutory maximum, adult offenders (RCW 9A.20.021(5)); unless a different maximum is specifically established by statute) | discretionary | RCW 9A.20.021 |
Applies to current.
How is catalytic converters classified in Washington?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Removing, altering, or obliterating VIN marking (first offense) | Gross Misdemeanor | A person intentionally removes, alters, or obliterates the last eight digits of the originating vehicle identification number from a detached catalytic converter, unless the enhanced penalty under (3)(b) applies. | RCW 9A.82.180(3)(a) |
| Removing, altering, or obliterating VIN marking (repeat offense) | Class C Felony | A person intentionally removes, alters, or obliterates the last eight digits of the original vehicle identification number from a detached catalytic converter and has a prior conviction under this subsection. | RCW 9A.82.180(3)(b) |
| Possession/sale of six or fewer unmarked converters | Gross Misdemeanor | A person who is not a licensed scrap processor or vehicle wrecker knowingly possesses, sells, or offers for sale six or fewer detached catalytic converters that fail to comply with marking requirements. | RCW 9A.82.180(4) |
| Possession/sale of seven or more unmarked converters | Class C Felony | A person who is not a licensed scrap processor or vehicle wrecker knowingly possesses, sells, or offers for sale seven or more detached catalytic converters that fail to comply with marking requirements. | RCW 9A.82.180(5) |
Common questions about catalytic converters in Washington
Is catalytic converters a felony or a misdemeanor in Washington?
It depends on the circumstances: catalytic converters ranges from a Gross Misdemeanor to a Class C Felony in Washington under RCW 9A.82.180.
Removing, altering, or obliterating VIN marking (first offense): Gross Misdemeanor (RCW 9A.82.180(3)(a)) · Removing, altering, or obliterating VIN marking (repeat offense): Class C Felony (RCW 9A.82.180(3)(b)) · Possession/sale of six or fewer unmarked converters: Gross Misdemeanor (RCW 9A.82.180(4)) · Possession/sale of seven or more unmarked converters: Class C Felony (RCW 9A.82.180(5))
What are the penalties for catalytic converters in Washington?
Penalties for catalytic converters in Washington depend on how it is classified — from a Gross Misdemeanor up to a Class C Felony — with the ranges set by RCW 9A.20.021; the full table of ranges by variant is published on this page.
Which Washington statute covers catalytic converters?
Catalytic converters is governed by RCW 9A.82.180 (Catalytic converters—Marking requirements—Defense).
Legal terms used in this law
This reference is informational and is not legal advice. Penalty ranges are the statutory classification ranges; sentencing in a specific case depends on its facts and history.