D.A. Proposes $1 Fee to Help Fight Car Theft

The district attorney’s office has asked that $1 be added to annual motor vehicle registration fees in Orange County to pay for a special task force that would investigate and prosecute car thefts.

The problem has reached “epidemic” proportions in California, according to a report by the district attorney’s office. And in Orange County, thefts have more than doubled in nine years--to 20,312 in 1991.

Dist. Atty. Michael R. Capizzi said Thursday that he hoped the task force also would thwart carjackings, a “serious and growing problem in Orange County.”

“There has been an alarming increase in the number of auto thefts in Orange County,” Capizzi said. “We would like to take advantage of this (fee) to put together a force and deal aggressively with this.”

Under his plan, which is similar to operations in 16 other California counties, the $1 fee would generate slightly more than $2 million each year to pay for a multi-jurisdictional task force.

The proposal has already won endorsement from the Orange County Chiefs of Police and Sheriff Assn. and is scheduled for consideration by the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday.

“Much of the cause of the escalating rate of vehicle thefts and auto burglaries is due to the increasing presence of gang activity in Orange County and the lucrative, organized chop shops,” the report stated.

If approved by the Board of Supervisors, collection of the additional fees would begin in March. Motorists pay annual registration fees according to a formula that is based on the value of their cars.

“From all indications, the Board of Supervisors is impressed with the seriousness of the problem and the cost is negligible,” Capizzi said.

About two years ago, the California Legislature first allowed counties to begin collecting the additional fee to form regional vehicle theft agencies. The provision was prompted by California’s ranking as a national leader in car theft reports.

Since then, virtually every major county in the state--including Los Angeles and San Diego--have formed agencies of their own. Capizzi said the idea has been under study here since the summer of 1991.

The 14-member task force would be drawn from law enforcement agencies throughout the county based on willingness to participate and the severity of the car theft problem in their cities.

The task force would be overseen by a five-member executive committee from the county police chiefs association. Day-to-day operations would be managed by a senior California Highway Patrol officer. Also among the 14 members would be a prosecutor and an investigator from the district attorney’s office.

Attached to Capizzi’s formal proposal to the board were 18 letters from top law enforcement officials throughout the county who generally lauded the plan.

“It is my sincere belief that such a task force will have a profound impact in reducing vehicle thefts and auto burglaries in Orange County,” Santa Ana Police Chief Paul M. Walters stated in a letter to supervisors.

As part of its mission, Capizzi hoped that the task force could focus on professional thieves involved in stripping stolen cars for the lucrative sale of spare parts.

“The task force could encompass a broad range of auto theft activity and should help to contain the escalating cost of insurance,” Capizzi said.