LANSING – State Representative Richard LeBlanc (D-Westland) today announced the restoration of $4 million in funding for the Automobile Theft Prevention Authority (ATPA), a program that has been proven to lower incidents of auto theft across the state, translating to reduced insurance rates for Michigan drivers.
"The ATPA has worked effectively for 20 years to reduce the number of auto thefts in Michigan, and I am pleased that we are able to get its funding restored," said LeBlanc, Chairman of the State Police and Military and Veterans Affairs Appropriations subcommittee, and a reserve police officer for the Canton Police Department. "Reducing crime is good for our communities and good for our state as a whole. Reducing crime makes our neighborhoods safer for our children to play in, attracts businesses and lowers insurance rates for our residents."
Each year the ATPA awards grants to law enforcement agencies, prosecutors' offices, and nonprofit community organizations. These grant programs help prevent auto theft, catch auto thieves, and put the thieves in jail. The ATPA is funded by an annual $1 assessment on each insured noncommercial passenger vehicle. Funding for the ATPA was cut by executive order last year.
According to the Web site of the Michigan State Police, auto thefts in Michigan have declined by 25 percent since the ATPA's inception in 1986. Nationally, thefts dropped only 5 percent during that same period. As a direct result, the average rate of major Michigan auto insurers' premiums, relative to other states, has been reduced.
"We must do all that we can to keep insurance rates low for our working families," LeBlanc said. "The less money our consumers spend on insurance, the more money they will have to spend in our local economy. This plan will help keep our communities safe and pump more dollars into our economy. It's a win-win situation for everyone."