LANSING – State Representative Andy Coulouris (D-Saginaw) today announced the restoration of $4 million in funding for the Automobile Theft Prevention Authority (ATPA), a program which has been proven to lower incidents of auto theft across the state, translating to reduced insurance rates for Michigan drivers.
"We must work to keep insurance rates low for Michigan drivers," Coulouris said. "Residents will have more money to spend on big-ticket items if they pay less for insurance. This is the right thing to do for our state."
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.