Taskforce for Regional Auto-theft Prevention (TRAP)

In December 2001, the CCJCC established a steering committee to recommend to the Board of Supervisors the County’s involvement in recent legislation that would allow counties to add one dollar to the DMV registration of vehicles to be used for a vehicle theft curtailment program. The steering committee was comprised of the sheriff, Los Angeles Police Department, Los Angeles County Police Chiefs Association, California Highway Patrol, the District Attorney, Probation Department and the Courts. In July, 2002, on the recommendation of CCJCC, the Board of Supervisors adopted the required County ordinance which allows counties to establish vehicle anti-theft programs from revenues derived from the one dollar fee added to registrations. The Taskforce reports semi-annually to CCJCC and gives a status of its progress.

The mission of TRAP is to reduce the incidents of auto theft, increase the recovery rate of stolen automobiles, identify trends and patterns of vehicle theft, provide training and expertise to participating law enforcement agencies, and coordinate a deterrence program with the private sector.

There are currently 51 investigators and 20 support staff for TRAP. The Task Force consists of representatives from various law enforcement agencies from throughout the County, and partnerships have been formed with other government and private organizations.

TRAP is funded by a one-dollar fee on all registered vehicles in Los Angeles County. For the 2002/2003 Fiscal Year, a total of approximately 7.3 million dollars was allocated to TRAP, of which 1.1 million dollars was rolled over to the current fiscal year.

In the past 10 years, TRAP has been responsible for 5,196 arrests made, 2,399 warrants served, 2,685 inspections conducted, and 13,542 vehicles recovered. The value of the recoveries is now over 230 million dollars. In the first six months of 2003, there have been 407 arrests made, and 1,234 vehicle recoveries.