HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 12071993 - 2.2 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Contra
FROM: Sheriff Warren Rupf and District Attorney Gary Yancey I' _._ Costa
` County
DATE: November 17, 1993
SUBJECT: Approval of resolution authorizing County participation in a Vehicle
Theft Program as authorized by CVC 9250.14
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
1. Approve the attached resolution authorizing County participation in a Vehicle Theft Program
pursuant to CVC 9250.14 and authorize the Sheriff-Coroner and District Attorney to execute an
agreement to establish such a program in this county.
2,,!.F�Authorize the County Auditor-Controller to establish the Vehicle Theft Program Special
Revenue Fund for deposit of such funds received from the State for appropriation by the Board of
Supervisors based upon recommendation of the District Attorney and the Sheriff Coroner
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
State of California Department of Motor Vehicles statistics reveal that as of December 1992,
there were 719,000 "fee paid" vehicles registered in Contra Costa County. This legislation
provides that, once the attached resolution is adopted and filed with the Department of Motor
Vehicles, they will add a$1.00 fee to each subsequent vehicle registration or renewal in Contra
Costa County. After the deduction of 1/2 cent per transaction (for administrative costs), DMV will
remit the balance to the county for use in a vehicle theft program.There will be a one time,up-front,
"computer set-up charge" of approximately $28,000.00 which will be deducted from registration
revenues by DMV before the funds are allocated to the county. According to the Department of
. Motor Vehicles,it will take 4 to 5 months from the time the Resolution is filed until funds are received
by the county.
THIS PROGRAM SHOULD PROVIDE $687,000.00 IN FIRST YEAR FUNDS AND AMOUNTS
IN EXCESS OF$715,000.00 ANNUALLY THEREAFTER, DEPENDING ON THE NUMBER OF
VEHICLES REGISTERED IN THE COUNTY.
REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION/ BACKGROUND:
Senate Bill 2139 enacted California Vehicle Code section 9250.14, which became effective
January 1, 1991. This legislation,authorizes counties to impose a one dollar ($1.00) vehicle
registration fee,to be collected by the Department of Motor Vehicles a e time registration or
renewal of vehicles registered in a county. These funds are to be (located to c unties, after
deduction of administrative costs, and used strictlyP, fundin new or xpanded programs which
enhance the capacity of local law enforcement to eter, in es 'gate a d prosecut vehicle theft
crimes.
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT:— YES SIGNATU E: tj
RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATIO OF BOARD CO E
APPROVE OTHER
SIGNATURE(S):
ACTION OF BOARD ON n i.a. - 1,a. - -T, !q C, APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE
UNANIMOUS(ABSENT ) AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN
AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD
AYES: NOES: OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN
ABSENT: ABSTAIN: ATTESTED 3�Lna�.,....A.na_ "7TJ 4 R
CC:
PHIL BATCHELOR.CLERK OF THE BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS
AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
M382 (=8) BY9C1. �� C��i a� DEPUTY
Vehicle Theft Program; page 2:
Fee: Vehicle Theft Deterrence, Investigation and Prosecution
9250.14. (a) In addition to any other fees specified in this code and the
Revenue and Taxation Code,upon the adoption of resolution by any county
board of supervisors, a fee of one dollar($1.00) shall be paid at the time of
registration orrenewal of registration of every vehicle registered to an address
within that county, except those expressly exempted for payment of registra-
tion fees. The fees,after the deduction of the administrative costs incurred by
the department in carrying out this section, shall be paid quarterly to the
Controller.
(b) Notwithstanding section 13340 of the Government Code, the money
paid to the Controller is continuously appropriated, without regard to fiscal
years, for the administrative costs of the Controller, and for disbursement by
the Controller to each county which has adopted a resolution pursuant to
subdivision (a), based upon the number of vehicles registered, or whose
registration is renewed, to an address within that county.
(c) Money allocated to a county shall be expended to fund programs which
enhance the capacity of local police and prosecutors to deter,investigate and
prosecute vehicle theft crimes. A program shall be eligible for funding under
this subdivision if, on an annual basis,more than one-half of all the personnel
time and other resources funded are expended for the exclusive purpose of
deterring, investigating, or prosecuting vehicle theft crimes.
(d) Any funds received by a county pursuant to this section which are not
expended to deter, investigate or prosecute vehicle theft crimes prior to
January 1, 1996, shall be returned to the Controller, for deposit in the Motor
Vehicle Account in the State Transportation Fund.
(e) No money collected pursuant to this section shall be expended to offset
a reduction in any other source of funds.
(f) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 1996, and as of
that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, which is enacted before
January 1, 1996„ deletes or extends that date.
Added Ch. 1670, Stats. 1990. Effective January 1, 1991
NOTE: This section shall remain In effect only until January 1,1996,and
as of that date is repealed.
The provision for a specialized law enforcement program aimed at the increasing numbers of
vehicle thefts in Contra Costa County is timely. Federal Bureau of Investigation statistics show a
nationwide increase in arrests for motor vehicle thefts of 49.6%,for the ten year period 1980-1989.
By comparison, the California Department of Justice-Bureau of Criminal Statistics reports that
arrests for motor vehicle theft in Contra Costa County for the period 1986-1991, increased 62%,
significantly above the nationwide arrest rate. During 1992 alone, a total of 4,571 vehicles were
reported stolen in Contra Costa County. This translates into atotal loss of roughly $22,855,000.00
to the citizens of our county. This figure also represents an increase of over 12%compared to the
losses suffered in 1990. According to investigators from the California Highway Patrol, there are
currently several major auto theft rings operating in Contra Costa County. One of these,which was
active in central county, involved as many as 15 different individuals who were acting in concert to
steal autos, motorcycles, boats, trailers and jet skis which represented a value of $500,000.00.
There is also a criminal street gang active in the west county area that is composed of adults and
juveniles who have been responsible for the theft of more than 40 vehicles in the past year.
Additionally, we have cases under investigation which involve the theft of commercial truck/trailer
units, where the contents of the trailers are "fenced" and the vehicles stripped for parts. We have
many cases where vehicles stolen,both here and in other counties,are sold to innocent purchasers
after vehicle identification numbers have been switched. Many other cases involve car-jacking or
elaborate schemes to strip high-value vehicles for their parts. According to CHP figures, close to
50%ofthe vehicles recovered in thiscounty have been stripped forparts,representing a substantial,
non-recoverable loss to the victim or their insurance carrier. Intelligence sources also reveal a
significant number of high value vehicles are stolen, then possibly exported to foreign countries
through the ports of Oakland and Richmond. Investigative resources in this county are very thin and
consequently many of the cases described above cannot be adequately analyzed, investigated or
prosecuted. Because of a lack of investigative resources, potentially significant conspiracy cases
involving multiple thefts and multiple defendants are not adequately developed and the District
Attorney's Office is often left prosecuting a single defendant in possession of a single stolen vehicle.
Such an approach cannot hope to impact a problem of this magnitude in any significant way.
Significant resources in the County's public protection agencies do not exist to adequately deal with
these offenders, particularly in the face of recent budget cuts.
Vehicle Theft Program; page 3:.
There area currently 31 other counties in the state that have taken advantage of this funding
program. All other bay area counties are currently participating and their programs have proven
very beneficial to law enforcement.
The proposed Contra Costa County program would provide;
District Attorney's Office--two Deputy District Attorneys.
Probation-- one Deputy Probation Officer III,
personal computer equipment.
Sheriffs Department-- one Sergeant (crime analysis), one clerk,
computer hardware and software improvements.
Criminalistics Laboratory- two Deputy Sheriff-Ciminalists, one fingerprint
examiner.
City jurisdictions and the California Highway Patrol would not get personnel,but would benefit from
hardware and software upgrades in the Sheriff's Department Crime Analysis Unit and Criminalistics
Laboratory support. Crime Analysis would act as a county-wide "clearing house" for auto theft
information,providing regularcrime analysisto all jurisdictions. That information would include,but
not be limited to; M.O. analysis,geographic breakdown and trends,an arrestee data base with the
ability to accurately track suspects. City jurisdictions may also benefit from an increase in
Criminalistic Laboratory services for major cases.
A complete description of the proposed program is provided in Attachment A.
CONSEQUENCES OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
Failure to approve this recommendation would result in the inability of county law enforce
ment to take advantage of this funding source, which can be enacted at the local level by
Board resolution. Negative action would perpetuate the inability of the county to respond
to local law enforcement needs in the face of continuing budget cuts.
IN THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, STATE OF CALIFORNIA
In the Matter of County Participation )
in a Vehicle Theft Program as )
Authorized by CVC 9250.14 ) RESOLUTION NO. 9 3/7 3 3
WHEREAS, The State of California has enacted California Vehicle Code
Section . 9250.14, which authorizes the Department of Motor Vehicles to
collect an annual one dollar fee for vehicles registered in Contra Costa
County for funding of local agency programs that deter, investigate or
prosecute vehicle theft crimes, and
WHEREAS, The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors is concerned with
the increasing problem of auto theft in Contra Costa County, and
WHEREAS, The Contra Costa County Sheriff's and District Attorney's Office
have devised a program to address the problem in conjunction with all
incorporated city police departments and the California Highway Patrol
that may help to reduce vehicle theft problems within the County.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Contra Costa County Board of
Supervisors hereby formally requests the State of California Department of
Motor Vehicles implement section 9250.14 of the California Vehicle Code
and commence collection of a fee of one dollar ($1.00) to be paid at the
time of registration or renewal of registration of every vehicle registered
to an address within Contra Costa County, except those vehicles expressly
exempted from payment of registration fees. It is the intention of the
Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors to fund an eligible program, as
specified in section 9250.14, which will enhance the capacity of local law
enforcement agencies to deter, investigate and prosecute vehicle theft
crimes.
PASSED AND ADOPTED on DE EMR ,R 79 i g A-i by the following vote:
AYES: Supervisors Powers , Smith, Bishop, McPeak and Torlakson
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
Witness my hand and the Seal of the
Board of Supervisors affixed this;
c13
PHIL BATCHELOR, Clerk of the Board
of Supervisors
and County Administrator.
ByJ, . (P_e.4 , Deputy Clerk
cc: County Administrator
Auditor-Controller
Sheriff-Coroner
District Attorney
Chief Probation Officer
ATTACHMENT A
VEHICLE THEFT PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
PROGRAM COMPONENTS:
The proposed Vehicle Theft Program has three (3) major components:
1. LAW ENFORCEMENT CRIME ANALYSIS: This component is the
responsibility of the Sheriff's Department. Vehicle theft reports
from every police agency in the county would be extensively
analyzed to determine trends in M.O., targeted vehicles,
geographical breakdowns for thefts and recoveries and suspects
actions. The Sheriff's Department would also attempt to
establish a suspect/arrestee data base to more accurately track
vehicle theft suspects. The data entry requirements for these
reports will be extensive. They will be supplemented in the first
year by existing Crime Analysis Unit staff. In the second year of
the program another data enty operator will be added to assist.
The Sergeant in charge of this program would chair bi-monthly
meetings with representatives of the involved agencies for the
purpose of discussing mutual problems and to ensure that the
Sheriff's Department is providing meaningful crime analysis.
This meeting would also allow the District Attorney's Office and
Probation Department to provide an update on their respective
activities.
2. DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE: The Deputy District Attorneys
assigned to the vehicle theft program would be assigned to
offices in the west and central regions of the county, where they
would review for filing, all felony auto theft related cases
investigated by the Sheriff's component and other county law
enforcement agencies: two hundred twenty-nine (229) such
cases were filed in municipal courts in 1992. The attorneys
would carry a full caseload of the more significant and complex
cases, which would include car-jacking, adopting OCJP approved
vertical prosecution techniques. The balance of the auto theft
cases would be assigned to other experienced attorneys in the
office. The attorneys in the auto theft program will maintain a
close working relationship with local auto theft investigators
and participate in the bi-monthly network meetings described
above. Effort will be made to obtain comprehensive background
information on selected auto thieves, and coordinate cases with
other counties to ensure maximum-..sentence is obtained. The
attorneys will work closely with juvenile division of this office
and will accept all car-jacking and other auto theft related
crimes eligible for adult prosecution under W&I 707B. Emphasis
will be placed on members of criminal street gangs who
participate in auto theft related crimes.
3. PROBATION DEPARTMENT: A Deputy Probation Officer, with
a compatible computer and software, would intensively
supervise a small select caseload of hard core auto theft related
cases. It is estimated that there are 60 adult felony auto theft
related cases under the supervision of the Probation
Department at any given time, and another 50 to 75 juvenile
ward of the court with auto theft backgrounds. Initially the
focus of this specialist would be 50 of the most serious adult
offenders, with the understanding that the serious juvenile
offenders would be phased in later. These auto theft cases
would be identified and screened for this program as they move
through the probation system. The deputy specialist assigned to
this position would then provide intensive probation
supervision for these cases and work closely with the other
components of this program and other law enforcement
agencies as needed.
4. CRIMINALISTICS LABORATORY: Laboratory staff will provide
fingerprint and analytical support to city and county agencies
and the CHP in auto theft related crimes. The Fingerprint
Examiner will compare latent prints associated with auto theft
crimes and suspects. The Criminalists will examine all other
evidence necessary to prosecute suspects for major offenses
related to auto theft crimes. The first year funding will cover
roughly 70% of the Fingerprint Examiner's salary. Second year
funding will cover most of the remaining 30% and add a Senior
Clerk for clerical support.
The program will allow every police agency in the county (including the
California Highway Patrol) to submit vehicle theft and recovery reports to
the Sheriff's Department Crime Analysis Unit, by fax. Crime Analysis will
act as a county-wide "clearing house" for auto theft information. The
reports submitted will be completely analyzed for: vehicle trends,
suspects' descriptions, suspects' M.O.s- geographical breakdowns and
trends, as well as day/date and time trends. This information will be
provided back to every law enforcement agency, in report form, on a
regular basis. Each agency will be able to use this information to
formulate their own enforcement, suppression and prevention programs.
This program will dramatically enhance the abilities of Contra Costa
County law enforcement agencies to deter, investigate and prosecute
vehicle theft crimes.
PROGRAM COSTS: (ESTIMATED)
PERSONNEL:
SHERIFF.
One (1) Sergeant--Sheriff's Department $82,524.00
One (1) Data-Entry Operator II $36,774.00
DISTRICT ATTORNEY:
Two (2) Deputy District Attorneys $218,666.00
PROBATION:
One (1) Deputy Probation Officer III $60,000.00
CREVIINALISTICS LABORATORY:
Two (2) Deputy Sheriff-Criminalists $166,980.00
One (1) Fingerprint Examiner (70% of salary) $42,416.00
TOTAL PERSONNEL: $607,360.00
EQUIPMENT:
Upgrade Records Management and Management Information
System (statistical) computer systems to include CPU, disk
drive, tape drive, operating system, device support software
and integration with system.
(estimate based on list prices) $61 ,000.00
One (1), Hewlett Packard DesignJet PIN plotter $7,500.00
CAD software to operate plotter $1 ,000.00
One (1), Canon L-775, high speed FAX $3,060.00
One (1), IBM or compatible 486PC (for RMS) $2,500.00
One (1), 486PC, modem, laser printer and
software. (Probation) $4,000.00
Dedicated phone line (for FAX) $580.00
TOTAL EQUIPMENT: $79,640.00
TOTAL FIRST YEAR COSTS: $687,000.00
In the second year, the program will add:
PERSONNEL:
SHERIFF:
One (1), Data Entry Operator II $36,774.00
CRIlVIINALISTICS LABORATORY:
One (1), Fingerprint Examiner (21% of salary) $13,230.00
One (1), Senior Clerk $42,636.00
TOTAL ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL: $92,640.00
TOTAL SECOND YEAR COSTS: $715,000.00