Auto Theft Prevention Act
Sponsored By: Representative Sherrill
Introduced
Summary
Creates a dedicated federal grant program in the Department of Justice's COPS Office to fund state and local efforts to reduce auto theft and stolen vehicle trafficking. It would allocate money to states based on recent auto theft levels and push more funding to localities with the worst problems.
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- Residents in high-auto-theft areas would see more competitive local grants routed to their communities, directing resources to places with larger theft problems.
- State and local law enforcement agencies could use grants to buy vehicles and license plate readers and pay for related data services. Grants would also fund hiring, overtime, training, joint task forces, and up to 5% for administrative costs.
- Grants would be issued to state attorneys general and allocated proportionally to each state's recent auto theft level, with at least 50% for competitive local subgrants and at least 25% reserved for state law enforcement use.
- The bill would also expand the allowed uses of existing COPS grant funds to include equipment, personnel, overtime, training, task forces, and data work tied to auto theft.
*Would authorize $30.0 million per year from 2026 through 2030 to carry out the program.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Allow current police grants to fight auto theft
This bill would let existing DOJ community policing grants be used to combat auto theft and stolen car trafficking. Police could use current grants to buy equipment and license plate readers, hire staff, pay overtime, expand training, support joint task forces, and fund data and research. This change would guide how existing funds can be spent. It would not add new money.
Auto theft grants for states and cities
This bill would set up a new federal grant program within 60 days of enactment. It would provide $30 million each year from 2026 through 2030 to fight auto theft. Grants would go to each State’s Attorney General, based on the state’s share of auto thefts in the prior year. At least 50% must go to local police by competitive subgrants, prioritizing places with more thefts, and at least 25% must go to state police. Money could buy vehicles and license plate readers (and data or subscription costs), hire staff, pay overtime, train officers, support task forces, and fund data and research; admin costs are capped at 5%. States include D.C., Puerto Rico, Guam, and other territories, and the bill defines which police agencies qualify.
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Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Sherrill
NJ • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2]
NE • R
Sponsored 1/20/2025
Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]
PA • R
Sponsored 3/6/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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