Norwalk takes action against street racing, catalytic converter thefts
By Jennifer Perez
As an elected official for the last five years, it has been my goal to work with residents, businesses and city staff to understand how City Hall could be more responsive to any issue being dealt with throughout Norwalk. It was important to not only listen to their concerns but to also look for ways to remedy these situations in a way that would effect positive change.
As a representative of Norwalk, I felt it necessary to find the answers. I voiced these concerns at regional inter-governmental meetings where I interacted with other local elected officials and was able to research how other cities throughout the county and state dealt with some of these same issues. My participation with Contract Cities Association and the League of Cities was instrumental in this regard.
Examples of this can be noted when the City expressed concerns regarding “street racing” and “street takeovers.” We had experienced these problems and felt we should find a way to discourage such dangerous activities. In researching the issue, I noted that local agencies had adopted ordinances punishing spectators and had reported success and found them to be an effective tool to combat such dangerous activities. In this way it would limit spectator involvement in motor vehicle speed contests and exhibitions of speed. Given the Norwalk Municipal Code (NMC) did not regulate spectators at illegal speed contests or exhibitions of speed, I felt it necessary to bring this to city staff for consideration by the City Council.
On October 18, 2022, the City Council unanimously passed Ordinance No. 22-1736 that will make it unlawful and a misdemeanor for any person to be present as a spectator, either on a public street or highway, or on private property generally open to the public without the consent of the owner, operator, or agent thereof, at an illegal speed contest or illegal exhibition of speed, with the exception of law enforcement officers or their agents.
An additional issue that has come forward in our city, was the stealing of catalytic converters. Although Assembly Bill (AB) 1740 and Senate Bill (SB) 1087 had recently been signed into California law and would go into effect on January 1, 2023 to curb the rise in stolen catalytic converter. The ability for Norwalk law enforcement to protect the public by preventing catalytic converter thefts and seize suspected stolen catalytic converters when no victim is present continued to be limited.
The Norwalk Municipal Code (NMC) had not regulated the unlawful possession of catalytic converters in the City. So I felt it was important to get staff the research on the issue in finding ways to further prevent such crimes from occurring. On October 18, 2022, the City Council unanimously passed Ordinance No. 22-1737 that will make it unlawful to possess any catalytic converter that is not attached to a vehicle unless the possessor has valid documentation or other proof to verify they are in lawful possession of the catalytic converter.
Local government needs to be responsive. Finding solutions to these issues is my passion, and I continue to interact with others about finding solutions to these everyday problems that may arise in Norwalk. Residents should expect nothing less from their representatives.