Auto Theft Prevention Act

This bill creates a federal grant program to help state and local law enforcement combat auto theft and stolen vehicle trafficking. It authorizes $30 million annually (2026-2030) based on each state’s prior year auto theft rates, requiring states to allocate at least 50% of funds to local agencies in high-theft areas and 25% to state agencies. Funds can be used for specific auto theft prevention activities, including purchasing equipment (like license plate readers), hiring staff, training officers, and funding data collection. The program directly affects state and local law enforcement agencies by providing targeted funding for proven anti-theft measures.