LANSING – State Representative Barb Byrum (D-Onondaga) today voted to restore $4 million in funding for the Automobile Theft Prevention Authority (ATPA), a program that has been proven to lower incidents of auto theft across the state, translating to reduced insurance rates for Michigan drivers.
"This plan will help us reduce the incidents of car theft in Michigan," Byrum said. "Reducing our crime rate makes our neighborhoods safer and leads to lower insurance rates. I'm pleased to join my colleagues from both sides of the aisle in supporting this important plan."
Each year the ATPA awards grants to law enforcement agencies, prosecutors' offices, and nonprofit community organizations. These grant programs help prevent auto theft, catch auto thieves, and put the thieves in jail. The ATPA is funded by an annual $1 assessment on each insured noncommercial passenger vehicle. Funding for the ATPA was cut by executive order last year.
According to the Web site of the Michigan State Police, auto thefts in Michigan have declined by 25 percent since the ATPA's inception in 1986. Nationally, thefts dropped only 5 percent during that same period. As a direct result, the average rate of major Michigan auto insurers' premiums, relative to other states, has been reduced.
"It only makes sense to provide funding to this important organization," Byrum said. "Auto thefts in Michigan have declined since the ATPA's inception. And the money our residents save on cheaper car insurance will be spent at local grocery stores and other local businesses. This is a win-win situation."