The Washington Auto Theft Prevention Authority (WATPA) was established within the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs to review and make recommendations to the Legislature and the Governor regarding motor vehicle theft crimes in Washington.
Washington Auto Theft Prevention Account.
The Washington Auto Theft Prevention Account (Account) is an appropriated account created in the custody of the State Treasurer. All receipts from gifts, grants, bequests, devises, or other funds from public and private sources (specifically traffic infraction surcharges) to support its activities must be deposited into the Account. Expenditures from the Account may be used only for activities relating to motor vehicle theft, including education, prevention, law enforcement, investigation, prosecution, and confinement costs.
The Account is subject to allotment procedures under the state budgeting, accounting, and reporting system statute but an appropriation is not required for expenditures. The WATPA must allocate moneys in the Account to public agencies for the purpose of establishing, maintaining, and supporting programs that are designed to prevent motor vehicle theft, including providing financial support:
The costs of administration must not exceed 10 percent of the moneys in the Account in any one year so that the greatest possible portion of the moneys available to the WAPTA are expended on combating motor vehicle theft.
Prior to awarding moneys from the Account for motor vehicle theft enforcement or prosecution efforts, the WAPTA must verify that the financial award includes sufficient funding to cover proposed activities which include, but are not limited to, administration, law enforcement, prosecutor, court, and state and local offender confinement costs. Moneys expended from the Account must be used to supplement, not supplant, other moneys that are available for motor vehicle theft prevention.
Traffic Infractions.
In addition to any other penalties imposed by law, a person found to have committed a traffic infraction must be assessed a $10 surcharge per infraction. Revenue from this fee must be remitted to the State Treasurer for deposit in the Account. Traffic surcharges are the primary source of revenue for the WAPTA.
The provision that authorizes the Washington Auto Theft Prevention Authority to allocate money in the Washington Auto Theft Prevention Account (Account) for state adult and juvenile confinement costs is eliminated. However, funds in the Account may continue to be used for municipal and county incarceration costs.
The substitute bill adds a null and void clause, making the act null and void if specific funding for the purpose of the act, referencing the act by bill or chapter number, is not provided by June 30, 2023, in the omnibus appropriations act.
(In support) The Washington Auto Theft Prevention Authority (WATPA) was created within the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs as part of legislation in response to the increase of auto thefts. Auto thefts continue to remain a problem for Washingtonians today and they have reached an all-time high. The Washington Auto Theft Prevention Account (Account) is currently funded from a percentage of a surcharge imposed on traffic fines. However, traffic infraction revenue is down, and it makes funding for the Account unreliable. As a result, the WATPA has not been in a position to execute its goals of prevention and education. Historically, the Department of Corrections and the Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration have been receiving funding from both the Account and from general fund dollars. By eliminating those agencies as recipients of Account funds, this will free up extra money for the WATPA.
(Opposed) None.