§67.12. Theft of a catalytic converter or engine control module

            A. Theft of a catalytic converter or engine control module is the misappropriation or taking of a catalytic converter or engine control module which belongs to another, either without the consent of the owner to the misappropriation or taking, or by means of fraudulent conduct, practices, or representations. An intent to deprive the owner permanently of the catalytic converter or engine control module is essential.

            B.(1) Whoever commits the crime of theft of a catalytic converter or engine control module when the misappropriation or taking and any related damage amounts to a value of twenty-five thousand dollars or more shall be imprisoned at hard labor for not less than ten years nor more than twenty years, or may be fined not more than fifty thousand dollars, or both.

            (2) When the misappropriation or taking and any related damage amounts to a value of five thousand dollars or more, but less than a value of twenty-five thousand dollars, the offender shall be imprisoned, with or without hard labor, for not less than five years nor more than ten years, or may be fined not more than ten thousand dollars, or both.

            (3) When the misappropriation or taking and any related damage amounts to a value of one thousand dollars or more, but less than a value of five thousand dollars, the offender shall be imprisoned, with or without hard labor, for not less than two years nor more than five years, or may be fined not more than three thousand dollars, or both.

            (4) When the misappropriation or taking and any related damage amounts to a value of less than one thousand dollars, the offender shall be imprisoned for not less than ninety days nor more than six months, or may be fined not more than one thousand dollars, or both.

            C. If the offender has been convicted under this Section two or more times previously, upon any subsequent conviction he shall be imprisoned, with or without hard labor, for an additional year to be served consecutively to the sentence imposed under Subsection B of this Section, or may be fined an additional one thousand dollars, or both.

            D. When there has been a misappropriation or taking by a number of distinct acts of the offender, the aggregate of the amount of the misappropriations or taking and any related damage shall determine the grade of the offense.

            E. For the purposes of this Section, "engine control module" means the electronic control unit of the vehicle that controls a series of actuators which ensures that the vehicle operates at optimal performance by monitoring all sensors in the engine bay.

            Acts 2022, No. 127, §1.