Latest news with #LeesaManion
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Here's how a new law will fight catalytic converter thefts in Washington
Leaders in Washington want to keep criminals from stealing your car's catalytic converter. Starting April 1, a new bill will strengthen protections and fine people who don't play by the rules. Under House Bill 2153: Vehicle dealers will be required to mark catalytic converters so that when law enforcement comes across a stolen one, they can track it back to the source. Purchasers will be required to record who they purchase catalytic converters from and the vehicle identification number (VIN) from which it was removed. These records must be retained for three years. Purchasers must be licensed, regulated, and inspected. They will be fined at least $1,000 per violation. The licensing process will include a new $500 fee, which goes directly to the Washington State Patrol to fund inspections and enforcement. Anyone who knowingly and unlawfully traffics detached catalytic converters will face up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Currently, when a catalytic converter is detached from a vehicle, police have no reliable way to trace it back to a specific vehicle. A catalytic converter is a metal cylinder that cleans a car's exhaust, making the air safer to breathe. People steal them to sell off what's inside. Often, there's platinum and palladium, worth more than $1,000 an ounce, and rhodium, worth almost $5,000 per ounce. They're also easy to steal. Someone can climb under a car and dismantle it in about 30 seconds. King County Prosecuting Attorney Leesa Manion hopes this new bill will curb catalytic converter thefts. 'For the first time, law enforcement and prosecutors will have the tools we need to hold people accountable for trafficking in stolen catalytic converters,' said Manion. 'That's a win for King County and for Washington State, and I am grateful to the partnership from the bill's prime sponsor, Rep. Cindy Ryu, and for the strong backing from the Washington legislature. If someone steals your catalytic converter, here is what Allstate Insurance says you'll notice: When you start your car, it will be loud because the thieves will have cut your exhaust pipe to steal it, which means the exhaust won't be channeled through the muffler. Your 'check engine' light will also come on, and you may smell exhaust fumes. If this happens, don't drive the car. Report the theft to the police and your car insurance company.
Axios
21-02-2025
- Axios
Gun violence dips in King County, but concerns remain
Gun violence in King County dropped in 2024, marking the first decline in six years, according to a report from the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office. Why it matters: Gun violence still accounted for more than two-thirds of homicides in King County last year, but the recent data shows the Seattle-area is finally aligning with the national trend of declining violent crime. By the numbers: Compared to 2023, King County last year saw a 29% drop in fatal shooting victims, a 13% decrease in non-fatal shooting victims and a 6% overall decline in the number of reported shots fired. Yes, but: Youth gun violence remains a growing concern, with victims under 18 making up 15% of all shooting victims in 2024, up from 9% the previous year, per the prosecutor's report. The number of youth shooting victims doubled since 2019 and rose 45% from 2023. People of color continue to be disproportionately impacted, making up 76% of shooting victims last year. Catch up quick: There was a notable increase in the rate of gun violence in the U.S. during the pandemic. Flashback: In 2022, the violent crime rate in Seattle reached a 15-year record high, with 52 homicides from all causes — a 24% increase over the 42 recorded in 2021, according to the department's year-end crime report. Last year, Seattle reported 54 homicides compared to 64 in 2023, a nearly 16% decrease year over year, according to the Seattle Police Department dashboard. Zoom in: In 2024, 51% of both firearm homicide victims and nonfatal shooting victims were in Seattle, with the remaining incidents primarily in the southern parts of King County, per the report. What they're saying:"While we still have significant work to do, these numbers are encouraging," Prosecuting Attorney Leesa Manion told Axios last week. "We will keep working on all fronts — in court, with our community partners, and in Olympia — to get guns out of the hands of kids and fight to ensure King County is safe for all our residents." What we're watching: Mayor Bruce Harrell's push to recruit more police officers and add closed-circuit cameras in some neighborhoods are central to the city's efforts to lower gun violence, his spokesperson Callie Craighead told Axios in an email last week.
