Car thieves beware

OLYMPIA – Responding to a public fed up with having cars stolen, Sen. Tracey J. Eide, D-Federal Way, sponsored Senate Bill 5038 to give law enforcement officers better tools to fight the crime of auto theft. The House companion measure unanimously passed the Senate on April 4.

Auto theft is on the rise, with Washington now ranking fourth in the nation for such crimes. “And we’re seeing younger and younger thieves at work, too,” Eide said. “It’s time we got tougher on auto thieves.”

Eide said the bill was a top priority for the city of Federal Way, which has seen an increase in the number of auto thefts. The measure would stiffen penalties for repeat offenders and penalize adults who set up juvenile thieves.

Key provisions of the legislation include the following:

Juveniles adjudicated of a first offense of theft of a motor vehicle or possession of a stolen motor vehicle would be subject to either five days home detention and 45 hours of community restitution, or no home detention and 90 hours of community restitution.

For a first offense of taking a motor vehicle without permission in the second degree, juveniles would be subject to either: one day of home detention, one month of supervision and 15 hours of community restitution; or no home detention, one month of supervision and 30 hours of community restitution.

Prior convictions of motor vehicle theft, possession of a stolen vehicle, and taking a vehicle without permission would be triple scored for purposes of sentencing.

Juvenile offenders would be subject to risk assessments, home detention and mandatory minimum penalties for theft, possession of a stolen vehicle and taking a motor vehicle without permission.

It would be a gross misdemeanor to make or possess motor vehicle theft tools.

The statewide Auto Theft Prevention Authority would be created in the Washington Association of Sheriffs & Police Chiefs to study motor vehicle theft in Washington and make recommendations to the Legislature and governor.

A $10 mandatory surcharge would be added to traffic infractions and proceeds would be deposited into the Washington Auto Theft Prevention Authority Account.

The bill returns to the House for concurrence with a Senate amendment. The Legislature is scheduled to adjourn April 22.

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