Vehicle Theft: Data Bases for Implementing and Assessing the 1984 Vehicle Theft Act

摘要

The briefing report provides information pertinent to the 1984 Motor Vehicle Theft Law Enforcement Act, which was designed to curb the theft of motor vehicles presently number over 1,000,000 each year, primarily by addressing the 'chop shop' problem. The act requires that numbers be marked on certain parts of new passenger car models that are frequently stolen, thereby making parts traceable and assisting law enforcement officials in tracking and prosecuting thieves. The act also authorized criminal penalties for altering Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and for possessing, trafficking in, importing, or exporting stolen vehicles or parts. The report compares vehicle theft and recovery data bases available to implement the act and assess its effectiveness.