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A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE GOVERNOR TO CONVENE A TASK FORCE TO STUDY THE

FEASIBILITY OF CREATING A STATE AUTHORITY TO COMBAT THE

PROBLEM OF AUTOMOBILE THEFT IN NEW MEXICO.

WHEREAS, according to crime data from the federal bureau

of investigation, there were over nine thousand offenses of

motor vehicle theft committed in New Mexico in 2006, and the

number of motor vehicle thefts per one hundred thousand New

Mexicans is four hundred seventy-three; and

WHEREAS, automobile thieves use stolen vehicles to sell

automobile parts on the highly profitable illegal parts market

and to export automobile components and intact vehicles to

other states and countries; and

WHEREAS, stolen automobiles are also used as

instrumentalities in violent crimes, drug offenses, theft and

gang activities; and

WHEREAS, New Mexicans are at a particular risk of

automobile theft because of New Mexico's proximity to the

international border and the state's rapidly increasing rates

of trafficking and using methamphetamine, which is a criminal-

lifestyle drug that fuels a broad range of criminal activity,

including automobile theft, forgery, credit card fraud,

identity theft, mail theft, burglary and shoplifting; and

WHEREAS, automobile theft is a statewide problem that

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requires greater cooperation among the state's law enforcement

agencies and district attorneys, the motor vehicle insurance

industry, community organizations and business organizations;

and

WHEREAS, enhanced statewide coordination among law

enforcement agencies across the state, including the sharing

of information regarding automobile theft "hot spots", would

enhance law enforcement's ability to track automobile theft

rings, develop a statewide strategy for the arrest of

automobile theft offenders and track auto theft across state

lines; and

WHEREAS, many of New Mexico's neighboring states in the

southwest region have established automobile theft prevention

authorities for the purpose of combating, preventing and

investigating automobile theft, including Colorado, Arizona

and Texas; and

WHEREAS, automobile theft prevention authorities in

those states use various mechanisms to combat automobile

theft, such as implementing community education and public

awareness programs as well as providing grants to law

enforcement agencies to improve cooperation, establish

automobile theft investigative units and employ specialized

training;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF

REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the governor

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be requested to convene a task force to study the feasibility

of creating a state authority to combat the problem of

automobile theft in New Mexico; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the membership of the task

force include the attorney general or the attorney general's

designee; the secretary of public safety or the secretary's

designee; the director of the motor vehicle division of the

taxation and revenue department or the director's designee;

representatives of local law enforcement agencies across the

state, including representatives from both the metropolitan

and rural areas of New Mexico; a representative from the

administrative office of the district attorneys; and

representatives from the automobile insurance industry; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the work of the task force

include the following:

A. a review of automobile theft prevention

authorities in other states that may serve as models for New

Mexico;

B. an evaluation of the programs and initiatives

of automobile theft prevention authorities in other states,

including programs and initiatives related to community

education, public awareness, statewide vehicle registration,

specialized training for law enforcement agencies, coordinated

communication among law enforcement agencies and support for

investigative units and complex automobile theft prosecutions;

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and

C. a review of cost estimates for the creation and

operation of an automobile theft prevention authority in New

Mexico; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force present a

report of its findings and recommendations, including any

recommendations for proposed legislation, to the interim

legislative courts, corrections and justice committee no later

than November 1, 2008; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be

transmitted to the governor and the co-chairs of the interim

legislative courts, corrections and justice committee.