In the early hours or late at night under fluorescent lights, Daryl Terrell represents California’s working-class spirit as he balances two jobs. For 15 years, he has been a cashier at Lowe’s and, for nearly three years, a courtesy clerk at Stater Bros. in Moreno Valley, where he bags groceries and collects carts. However, outside his day-to-day responsibilities, Terrell has emerged as a vocal leader in a growing movement to combat catalytic converter theft, a crime increasingly plaguing the working class.

The catalyst for Terrell’s advocacy was a troubling incident in a parking lot when a co-worker’s catalytic converter was stolen in broad daylight. The subsequent repair bill posed a significant threat to his co-worker’s livelihood, raising alarm bells for Terrell. “People were missing work. Seniors were afraid to park outside. Families were hit with expenses they weren’t prepared for,” Terrell recounted. “I recognized a gap in the law and knew I had to act.”

At that time, California’s laws provided little recourse for victims of catalytic converter theft, as detaining individuals in possession of these stolen parts required a direct link to a specific victim. On May 17, 2022, Terrell took action, urging the Riverside County Board of Supervisors to adopt an ordinance against unlawful possession of catalytic converters. His persistence paid off nearly a year later when Riverside County adopted Ordinance 987. This landmark measure positioned Riverside alongside San Bernardino County as one of the first regions in California to implement strong regulations targeting this widespread theft problem.

Terrell has been an outspoken critic of California state laws, particularly Assembly Bill 641, which applies only when an individual possesses 9 or more detached catalytic converters.
Since the enactment of Ordinance 987, Terrell has broadened his advocacy efforts across Southern and Central California. He has promoted similar ordinances at county meetings in Ventura, Kern, Fresno, Kings, and Orange Counties. He has addressed city councils in Rialto, Bakersfield, Long Beach, and Beverly Hills. Following his grassroots efforts, cities like Clovis and Colton have enacted their own local measures.

In Los Angeles County, while 18 cities have passed catalytic converter possession ordinances, the County has yet to establish a countywide measure, leaving many unincorporated areas unprotected under state law. Recent statistics from the Los Angeles Police Department reveal that over 2,400 catalytic converter thefts were reported in recent years, highlighting the persistent nature of the issue. For Terrell, this fight transcends mere statistics. “This isn’t just property crime,” he emphasized. “It’s about public safety and dignity. When someone can steal a part off your car in broad daylight and walk away without consequences, that affects how people feel in their own neighborhoods.”

Terrell insists that his advocacy stems from a sense of civic duty rather than political ambition. “Policy doesn’t only belong to insiders,” he stated. “If you’re willing to show up, study the issue, and keep pushing, you can make a difference.”

Daryl Terrell’s journey is a powerful lesson in grassroots advocacy: meaningful change can emerge not from the corridors of power but from the determination of an individual unwilling to look the other way.