Unless the conduct is covered under some other provision of law providing greater punishment, knowingly possessing a catalytic converter that has been removed from a motor vehicle is a Class I felony unless the person in possession is any of the following:

(1)        An employee or agent of a company, or an individual, acting in their official duties for a motor vehicle dealer, motor vehicle repair shop, secondary metals recycler, or salvage yard that is licensed, permitted, or registered pursuant to State law.

(2)        An individual who possesses vehicle registration documentation indicating that the catalytic converter in the individual’s possession is from a vehicle registered in that individual’s name and is or will be replaced with another legally obtained catalytic converter.

(3)        An individual who possesses a catalytic converter lawfully received from an individual in subdivision (2) of this section and proof of vehicle ownership and a copy of the most recent vehicle registration documentation for the vehicle from which the catalytic converter was removed. ?(2022-68, s. 1(b).)