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CRM 1000-1499

1370. Theft Prevention Decals

The Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention Act, 42 U.S.C. § 14171, which was enacted as Title XXII of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, requires the Attorney General to develop, in cooperation with the States, a national voluntary motor vehicle theft prevention program wherein a motor vehicle owner may sign a consent form authorizing law enforcement officers to stop his motor vehicle if it is being operated under specified conditions.

The proposed rule governing this program (1995 F.R. 54460, October 24, 1995) has two sets of conditions. Under the first condition, the owner may consent to have the car stopped if it is operated between the hours 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. Under the second condition, the owner may consent to have the car stopped if it crosses or is about to cross a United States land border, or if it enters a port. Participating motorists must agree to display a program decal on their vehicles. An unauthorized application of a program decal on a vehicle is punishable by a fine not to exceed $1000 (18 U.S.C. § 511A). In addition, any person in the business of renting or leasing motor vehicles and who rents a motor vehicle on which a program is affixed and fails to provide notice to the renter or lessee, shall be subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $5,000.

This program will be administered by the Office of Justice Programs when the final rule is promulgated.

[cited in JM 9-61.700]