New Federal Grant Program Authorizes $50M Annually to Fund Local Police Units for Auto Theft Prevention

The “Auto Theft Prevention Act” is exactly what it sounds like: a bill designed to pump federal cash into state and local law enforcement specifically to fight the surge in stolen cars. Citing the fact that over a million vehicles were stolen in 2022, this legislation sets up a dedicated grant program within the Department of Justice’s COPS Office, authorizing $50 million annually from 2024 through 2028 to tackle the problem. The core idea is to get resources directly to the agencies on the front lines, with the bill requiring states to pass through a huge chunk of that money to local police departments.

Where the Money Goes: Hiring, Tech, and Overtime

For local law enforcement agencies, this bill is a direct funding boost for specialized operations. The money is earmarked for things that directly impact their ability to catch car thieves and dismantle organized rings. This includes hiring personnel dedicated to auto theft units, purchasing technology like law enforcement vehicles and license plate readers (LPRs), and covering overtime for officers working these specific investigations (SEC. 1, Local Subgrantee Requirements; SEC. 3, Eligible Uses of Funds). If you live in a city seeing a spike in car break-ins or thefts, this funding means your local police department could finally afford that dedicated task force or the tech needed to track stolen vehicles across state lines.

The State as the Middleman: A Funding Funnel

While the goal is to fund local efforts, the money flows through the states first. Under one section of the bill, states must apply with a detailed plan and assure the Director that they will pass through at least 95% of the funds to local agencies. However, a later section (SEC. 3) gives the State Attorney General the power to award these funds through competitive subgrants, requiring at least 50% to go to local agencies and 25% to the state's own law enforcement, with the remaining 25% flexible. This dual structure means the State Attorney General becomes the gatekeeper for local funding, prioritizing agencies in areas with higher auto theft rates. For taxpayers, this is a significant commitment, authorizing $50 million annually, and state and local governments will bear the administrative burden of applying for, managing, and reporting on these grants.

Making Auto Theft a Federal Priority

Beyond creating the new grant program, this bill also makes a significant change to existing federal law. It amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to explicitly add combating auto theft as an authorized use for the broader COPS grant program (SEC. 4). This move signals that the federal government is formally recognizing vehicle theft as a key public safety issue on par with other major crimes eligible for federal assistance. This means that even if a state doesn't get money from the new, dedicated grant, they can now use existing COPS funds for things like LPRs, specialized training, and joint task forces targeting car theft.

The Fine Print: What Needs Watching

While this bill provides much-needed resources, a couple of details stand out. First, states are required to assure the federal government that the grant funds will “supplement, not replace” existing state and local funds (SEC. 1, State Application Requirements). This is designed to prevent states from simply shifting their current auto theft budget elsewhere, but enforcing that in practice can be tough. Second, the bill allows the grant money to be used for “any other activity the Director determines is appropriate,” which is pretty vague. While it gives the COPS Director flexibility to adapt to new criminal trends, it also means there's a lot of discretion over how public money is spent, which is something agencies and taxpayers should keep an eye on.