Runestad bill to crack down on car theft technology gets green light from Senate panel

LANSING, Mich. — The Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety on Tuesday accepted Sen. Jim Runestad’s legislation to combat increasing traits of vehicle theft in Michigan.

“I have realized from law enforcement that there has been a regarding increase of car thefts in Southeast Michigan and throughout the point out — they level to handheld laptop units made use of for automotive essential programming and diagnostics as a important contributor to this regrettable and escalating trend,” reported Runestad, R-White Lake. “These applications are handy in the palms of locksmiths and automobile mechanics, but criminals are using advantage of this technological innovation at an alarming level. My invoice will give prosecutors and law enforcement officers the resource they require to cost individuals who are using edge of this technological innovation to commit crimes.”

Senate Monthly bill 870 would insert pcs or other technological innovation that allow an unique to method a crucial code for a motor vehicle to the state’s theft products statute, which prescribes a felony offense for folks uncovered to be in possession of the equipment with the intention to dedicate theft.

The Oakland County Sheriff’s place of work stories that auto thefts have elevated 66.7{18fa003f91e59da06650ea58ab756635467abbb80a253ef708fe12b10efb8add} and possession of a motor vehicle as stolen residence increased 138{18fa003f91e59da06650ea58ab756635467abbb80a253ef708fe12b10efb8add} from 2020 to 2021.

“The raise in the use of handheld pc products — pro pads — used for automotive critical re-programming has been a main contributor to the thefts,” claimed Oakland State Sheriff Michael J. Bouchard. “Thieves are in a position to re-plan crucial fobs in minutes and be gone with the auto. Most are not noticed to be stolen until hours or times later on. A harsher penalty would hopefully discourage most robbers from working with this technology.

“With pro pads remaining applied in approximately 90{18fa003f91e59da06650ea58ab756635467abbb80a253ef708fe12b10efb8add} of the Oakland County automobile thefts, vehicle theft detectives have attempted to get the auto robbers in possession of the pro pads charged with possession of burglary resources but have been unsuccessful. Detectives have been encouraged by the prosecutor’s business that circumstance law demands to be written which lists pro pads as theft equipment. If language does not currently exist in the monthly bill labeling these as theft equipment, we support introducing that language. Oakland County auto theft detectives have recovered somewhere around 10 professional pads in the earlier yr.”

Regulation enforcement groups, which include the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Law enforcement, Michigan Sheriffs’ Association, Law enforcement Officers Affiliation of Michigan, Michigan Fraternal Get of Law enforcement, Prosecuting Lawyers Affiliation of Michigan, and Michigan Brands Association have voiced their support for the invoice.

SB 870 now moves to the comprehensive Senate for thing to consider.

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