You asked for a comparison of auto theft programs in Connecticut and other states. You were particularly interested in states that have established a dedicated funding source for such programs.

SUMMARY

The Connecticut Regional Auto Theft Task Force in the Department of Public Safety (DPS) participates in the national “Watch Your Car Program. ” In this program a vehicle owner can authorize the police to stop his vehicle if it is operating between 1 a. m. and 5 a. m. , to determine whether it has been stolen. (Several Connecticut municipalities also participate in this program. ) The task force also investigates “chop shops” and insurance fraud schemes. The task force does not have dedicated funding.

At least 12 other states have established auto theft prevention authorities (ATPAs) with dedicated revenue streams. These authorities provide funding to specialized law enforcement units and prosecutors to combat auto theft and auto insurance fraud, as well as for the “Watch Your Car Program” (which goes by various names in other states). In most of these states, the authorities are funded by a surcharge on vehicle insurance policies. Several states with ATPAs have reported declines in auto thefts relative to national trends.

CONNECTICUT

The Connecticut Regional Auto Theft Task Force in DPS is a statewide cooperative response intended to suppress the problem of motor vehicle theft and related crimes. The task force investigates “chop shops” and insurance fraud schemes. The task force was established in 1995 after auto theft had increased for seven consecutive years.

The task force maintains field offices in the areas of the state where auto theft is the most prevalent: Hartford, Bridgeport, New Haven, and Waterbury. Each field office is staffed with a state police sergeant, a trooper, and, in some offices, municipal police officers. The task force has its headquarters in Meriden and operates the DPS impound lot in Portland. It cooperates with law enforcement agencies in Connecticut, throughout the United States and internationally. In addition, it works with the insurance industry to combat fraud and initiates training throughout the state.

The task force participates in the national “Watch Your Car Program”, which is designed to deter auto theft and assist in apprehending auto thieves. The program identifies vehicles that are not routinely operated during the early morning hours so that law enforcement officers can investigate auto theft as quickly as possible.

Motor vehicle owners who participate in the program sign a consent form and obtain the program decals.   The consent form authorizes law enforcement officers to stop the vehicle if it is being driven between 1 a. m. and 5 a. m. and take reasonable steps to determine whether the vehicle is being operated with the owner's consent. If an officer observes the vehicle being driven anywhere in the United States during these hours, he may stop the vehicle and verify that it is being driven by the owner or a person designated by the owner. The officer will ask to see driver's license and vehicle registration to verify that the driver is the vehicle’s owner.   If the driver is not the owner, the officer will call the local or state police department to determine whether the driver is a designated driver (selected by the vehicle owner at the time of registration) or has the owner’s permission to operate the vehicle.   If the owner cannot be reached, the officer will allow the driver to leave.  If the owner can be reached and states that the driver does not have permission to drive the vehicle, the officer then has reason to believe the vehicle is stolen and will act accordingly. The program is free to participants. Further information about the program is available at http: //www. ncjrs. org/txtfiles1/bja/fs000261. txt.

STATES WITH PROGRAMS WITH DEDICATED FUNDING

In addition to participating in the Watch Your Car Program, at least 12 states have established auto theft prevention authorities funded with dedicated revenue streams. These states include: Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, and Virginia. In several of these states, ATPA programs also address auto insurance fraud.

Funding Sources

In most of the 12 states, the ATPA is funded by assessments on the insurance industry or surcharges. For example, the Michigan ATPA is funded by an assessment on insurance companies equal to $ 1 for each insured noncommercial vehicle. New York’s program is funded by a $ 5 assessment on commercial vehicle insurance policies. In Colorado, the ATPA is supported by voluntary contribution from the insurance industry. In Maryland, the ATPA is funded from penalties collected for lapsed or terminated insurance coverage and fees collected for verifying the vehicle identification number (VIN) of salvaged vehicles.

Programs

The revenue collected by the ATPA is used to provide grants to law enforcement agencies and prosecutors offices and to non-profit organizations. The grants can be used to establish vehicle theft prevention, deterrence, and education programs and to enhance prosecution and adjudication of vehicle theft crimes. As part of “Watch Your Car” theft prevention programs in Arizona and Texas, drivers can authorize the police to stop their vehicle at any time when crossing the border into Mexico.

Several states also offer programs to etch a vehicle’s identification number (VIN) on its windows. In Texas, the ATPA, in partnership with the Texas Action Council on Theft, operates the P. O. P. (Protect Our Parts) Program to assist in vehicle recovery efforts. P. O. P. uses visibly traceable labels printed with ID numbers attached permanently to vehicle parts and accessories. Even if the number is removed, it is still visible by ultraviolet light. Parts information is automatically entered into a database and made available to law enforcement officials worldwide.

As part of its education program, the Pennsylvania ATPA created the “Lock or Lose It Program” to combat thefts from convenience store parking lots. The ATPA contracted with an advertising agency, which designed a black and yellow sticker for convenience store windows that states, “Lock it or Lose it. Take your Keys. Lock your Car. ” The Erie and Scranton police departments, which received program grants, then worked with local convenience stores to coordinate mock auto thefts in which plain-clothes police officers played victim and thief in a car theft scenario. The purpose was to show the public through extensive media coverage how quickly a car can be stolen if left running. The initiative received extensive coverage on local TV and in local papers.

Program Effectiveness

The 2003 annual report of the Michigan ATPA http: //www. michigan. gov/documents/2003_Annual_Report_84040_7. pdf, notes that while auto theft had increased nationally by 2% between 1986 (when the authority was established) and 2002, it had fallen by 32% in Michigan. In New York, reported auto theft fell by 62% between 1994 (when the state established its program) and 2002; in contrast, auto theft only fell by 205 nationally during this period.

According to a Webpage issued by the Colorado ATPA (http: //www. coloradoautotheft. org/ATPAsigned. htm), in every case where an ATPA has been created, the state has experienced significant and sustained reductions in motor vehicle theft, reductions in auto theft related insurance claims, and an increase in the number of arrests and prosecutions for vehicle crimes. Furthermore, in every state where the ATPA has been subject to sunset review, the authority has been retained based on support from insurance companies, law enforcement and state legislatures because they are cost effective and achieve their goals.

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