2000 Minnesota Statutes

     299A.75 Automobile theft prevention program. 

    Subdivision 1.    Program described; commissioner's 
 duties.  (a) The commissioner of public safety shall: 

    (1) develop and sponsor the implementation of statewide 
 plans, programs, and strategies to combat automobile theft, 
 improve the administration of the automobile theft laws, and 
 provide a forum for identification of critical problems for 
 those persons dealing with automobile theft; 

    (2) coordinate the development, adoption, and 
 implementation of plans, programs, and strategies relating to 
 interagency and intergovernmental cooperation with respect to 
 automobile theft enforcement; 

    (3) annually audit the plans and programs that have been 
 funded in whole or in part to evaluate the effectiveness of the 
 plans and programs and withdraw funding should the commissioner 
 determine that a plan or program is ineffective or is no longer 
 in need of further financial support from the fund; 

    (4) develop a plan of operation including an assessment of 
 the scope of the problem of automobile theft, including areas of 
 the state where the problem is greatest; an analysis of various 
 methods of combating the problem of automobile theft; a plan for 
 providing financial support to combat automobile theft; a plan 
 for eliminating car hijacking; and an estimate of the funds 
 required to implement the plan; and 

    (5) distribute money from the automobile theft prevention 
 special revenue account for automobile theft prevention 
 activities, including: 

    (i) paying the administrative costs of the program; 

    (ii) providing financial support to the state patrol and 
 local law enforcement agencies for automobile theft enforcement 
 teams; 

    (iii) providing financial support to state or local law 
 enforcement agencies for programs designed to reduce the 
 incidence of automobile theft and for improved equipment and 
 techniques for responding to automobile thefts; 

    (iv) providing financial support to local prosecutors for 
 programs designed to reduce the incidence of automobile theft; 

    (v) providing financial support to judicial agencies for 
 programs designed to reduce the incidence of automobile theft; 

    (vi) providing financial support for neighborhood or 
 community organizations or business organizations for programs 
 designed to reduce the incidence of automobile theft; 

    (vii) providing financial support for automobile theft 
 educational and training programs for state and local law 
 enforcement officials, driver and vehicle services exam and 
 inspections staff, and members of the judiciary; and 

    (viii) conducting educational programs designed to inform 
 automobile owners of methods of preventing automobile theft and 
 to provide equipment, for experimental purposes, to enable 
 automobile owners to prevent automobile theft. 

    (b) The commissioner may not spend in any fiscal year more 
 than ten percent of the money in the fund for the program's 
 administrative and operating costs. 

    Subd. 2.    Annual report.  By January 15 of each year, 
 the commissioner shall report to the governor and legislature on 
 the activities and expenditures in the preceding year. 

    HIST: 2000 c 488 art 6 s 7