Official Code of Georgia Annotated
Title 10. COMMERCE AND TRADE · Chapter 1. SELLING AND OTHER TRADE PRACTICES · Article 14. SECONDARY METALS RECYCLERS
10-1-351. Verifiable documentation required; unlawful activities pertaining to used, detached catalytic converters.
Current through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly.
- (a)
No secondary metals recycler shall purchase any coil unless it is purchased from:#
- (1)
A contractor licensed pursuant to Chapter 14 of Title 43 or by another state that provides a copy of such valid license at the time of the purchase transaction that is scanned or photocopied by the secondary metals recycler or whose scanned or photocopied license is on file with the secondary metals recycler;#
- (2)
A seller with verifiable documentation, such as a receipt or work order, indicating that such coil is the result of a replacement of condenser coils or a heating or air-conditioning system performed by a contractor licensed pursuant to Chapter 14 of Title 43; or#
- (3)
A secondary metals recycler who provides proof of registration pursuant to Code Section 10-1-359.1 and a signed statement stating that the required information concerning the purchase transaction involving such coil was provided by such secondary metals recycler to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation pursuant to Code Section 10-1-359.5.#
- (b)
No secondary metals recycler shall purchase any copper wire which appears to have been exposed to heat, charred, or burned in an attempt to remove insulation surrounding it unless it is purchased from:#
- (1)
A contractor licensed pursuant to Chapter 14 of Title 43 or by another state that provides a copy of such valid license at the time of the purchase transaction that is scanned or photocopied by the secondary metals recycler or whose scanned or photocopied license is on file with the secondary metals recycler;#
- (2)
A seller with a copy of a police report showing that such seller’s real property was involved in a fire; or#
- (3)
A secondary metals recycler who provides proof of registration pursuant to Code Section 10-1-359.1 and a signed statement stating that the required information concerning the purchase transaction involving such copper wire was provided by such secondary metals recycler to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation pursuant to Code Section 10-1-359.5.#
- (c)
No secondary metals recycler shall purchase a catalytic converter unless such catalytic converter is:#
- (1)
Attached to a vehicle; or#
- (2)
Purchased from:#
- (A)
A used motor vehicle dealer or used motor vehicle parts dealer licensed pursuant to Chapter 47 of Title 43 or by another state that provides a copy of such valid license at the time of the purchase transaction that is scanned or photocopied by the secondary metals recycler or whose scanned or photocopied license is on file with the secondary metals recycler;#
- (B)
A new motor vehicle dealer that provides a copy of a valid business license at the time of the purchase transaction that is scanned or photocopied by the secondary metals recycler or whose scanned or photocopied business license is on file with the secondary metals recycler;#
- (C)
A motor vehicle repairer that provides a copy of a valid business license at the time of the purchase transaction that is scanned or photocopied by the secondary metals recycler or whose scanned or photocopied business license is on file with the secondary metals recycler;#
- (D)
A manufacturer or distributor of catalytic converters that provides a copy of a valid business license at the time of the purchase transaction that is scanned or photocopied by the secondary metals recycler or whose scanned or photocopied business license is on file with the secondary metals recycler;#
- (E)
A seller with:#
- (i)
Verifiable documentation, such as a receipt or work order, indicating that the catalytic converter is the result of a replacement of a catalytic converter performed by a used motor vehicle dealer, new motor vehicle dealer, or motor vehicle repairer. Such documentation shall include a notation as to the make, model, and year of the vehicle in which such catalytic converter was replaced; and#
- (ii)
A copy of a certificate of title or registration showing ownership of or interest in the vehicle in which the catalytic converter was replaced; or#
- (F)
A secondary metals recycler who provides proof of registration pursuant to Code Section 10-1-359.1 and a signed statement stating that the required information concerning the purchase transaction involving such catalytic converter was provided by such secondary metals recycler to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation pursuant to Code Section 10-1-359.5.#
- (d)
- (1)
It shall be unlawful for any person to purchase or to solicit or advertise for the purchase of a used, detached catalytic converter, or any nonferrous metal parts of a catalytic converter, unless such person is a registered secondary metals recycler in accordance with Code Section 10-1-359.1 and in full compliance with all requirements prescribed by this article.#
- (2)
It shall be unlawful for any person to purchase, possess, transport, or sell a used, detached catalytic converter, or any nonferrous metal parts of a catalytic converter, unless such person is authorized to purchase, possess, transport, or sell catalytic converters pursuant to subsection (c) of this Code section and is in possession of the licenses, registrations, or other documentation required by subsection (c) of this Code section.#
- (3)
Each unlawfully possessed or obtained used, detached catalytic converter shall be considered a separate offense.#
History
Code 1981, § 10-1-351, enacted by Ga. L. 2012, p. 112, § 1-1/HB 872; Ga. L. 2015, p. 588, § 2/HB 461; Ga. L. 2023, p. 71, § 1-2/SB 60, effective July 1, 2023; Ga. L. 2025, p. 691, § 2/SB 40, effective July 1, 2025.
Amendments
The 2025 amendment, effective July 1, 2025, deleted paragraph (d)(1), which read: “As used in this subsection, the term ‘used, detached catalytic converter’ means motor vehicle exhaust system parts that are used for controlling the exhaust emissions from motor vehicles and that contain a catalyst metal, but shall not include a catalytic converter that has been tested, certified, and labeled for reuse, in accordance with applicable federal Clean Air Act regulations, as may from time to time be amended.” and redesignated former paragraphs (d)(2) through (d)(4) as present paragraphs (d)(1) through (d)(3), respectively. See Editor’s notes for applicability.
Editor's notes
Ga. L. 2025, p. 691, § 10/SB 40, not codified by the General Assembly, provides, in part, that the Act shall apply to all transactions occurring on and after July 1, 2025.
Read the official page (the state's PDF, opened at the page this text was read from).
Current through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly.
Text read from t10-(v8)-pdf.pdf, Volume V8, 2024 edition, 2025 supplement, pages 18 to 21; merge action: replaced; file SHA-256 f1fc4f45d8c6.