New Bill Throws $30 Million a Year at Auto Theft: Funds to Roll Out by 2026

The "Auto Theft Prevention Act" is pretty straightforward: It's setting up a $30 million-per-year grant program to help state and local cops fight car theft, starting in 2026 and running through 2030 (SEC. 2). Think of it as Uncle Sam providing backup in the fight against grand theft auto. The money is specifically for tackling auto theft and the trafficking of stolen vehicles.

Cash for Cops: How the Money Flows

This bill puts real money behind tackling a real problem. Within 60 days of this becoming law, the Justice Department's Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) will start managing the grant program. Each state's Attorney General gets a slice of the $30 million pie, with the size of the slice based on how bad their car theft problem was the year before. So, states with more stolen cars get more cash to fight back (SEC. 2).

Here’s the catch, the State AG has to divvy up the funds in a specific way:

• Local Focus (at least 50%): Half the money goes to local law enforcement, in competitive subgrants, and the areas with the highest theft rates get priority.
• State Support (at least 25%): A quarter of the funds goes straight to state law enforcement agencies.
• Flexibility (the rest): The remaining funds can be used by either local or state agencies. Local agencies will have an advantage based on their auto theft rate.

Real-World Rollout: Tools, Training, and Task Forces

So, what can law enforcement actually do with this money? A lot, actually (SEC. 2):

• Gear Up: Buy equipment like new patrol cars, license plate readers, and even cover the costs of data storage and subscription fees for those high-tech tools.
• More Boots on the Ground: Hire more officers and support staff specifically to combat auto theft.
• Overtime Pay: Cover overtime and extra pay for officers and staff working on car theft cases.
• Training Days: Invest in training for law enforcement and support staff on the latest auto theft prevention and investigation techniques.
• Teamwork Makes the Dream Work: Fund joint task forces that bring together different agencies to crack down on organized theft rings.
• Data-Driven Policing: Pay for collecting, storing, and analyzing data on auto theft to better understand trends and target resources.
• Admin Costs (capped at 5%): A small portion (up to 5% of the grant) can be used to cover the costs of applying for and managing the grant itself.

Beyond the New Grants: COPS Gets an Upgrade

This bill also expands what the existing COPS grant program can be used for (SEC. 3). Now, COPS money can also be used to fight auto theft, covering the same kinds of expenses as the new grant program: equipment, hiring, overtime, training, task forces, and data collection. This means there’s even more potential funding available, beyond the $30 million specifically set aside in this bill.

The Bottom Line

The Auto Theft Prevention Act aims to put a serious dent in car theft rates across the country. It's providing the resources and tools, so law enforcement can be more effective and proactive. The risk, of course, is how well the states will use the money. The bill puts the State Attorneys General in charge of distributing the funds, and there's always a chance that some of it could get bogged down in bureaucracy or spent inefficiently. The 5% cap on administrative costs is a good safeguard, but it's still something to keep an eye on. The definitions section (SEC. 4) makes it clear that this applies to all states, territories, and even local police departments.