Executive Order

Executive Order  No. 170: Governor's task force on automobile theft

Date: 12/04/1979
Issuer: Edward J. King
Mass Register: No. 188
Amended by: Executive Order 171

Table of Contents

WHEREAS, the problem of automobile theft has reached a critical dimension in the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, automobile theft is a cause of severe inconvenience and unnecessary cost to the victim; and

WHEREAS, the distribution and sale of stolen automobiles significantly affects the economy of the Commonwealth, the public interest and the public welfare; and

WHEREAS, it is imperative that a comprehensive, all-out attack on automobile theft and fraud be initiated to preserve the investments and properties of our citizens and to preserve the peace and safety of the public;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Edward J. King, Governor of the Commonwealth, by virtue of the authority vested in me as Supreme Executive Magistrate, do hereby order as follows:

1. There is hereby created a Committee, to be known as the Governor's Task Force on Automobile Theft, to consist of twenty-one (21) members who shall serve without compensation. The members of the Committee shall be appointed by the Governor and shall serve at his pleasure.

The following persons shall serve as ex officio members of the Committee: the Attorney General, the Secretary of Public Safety, the Commissioner of Public Safety, the Registrar of Motor Vehicles, the Chief Legal Counsel to the Governor, the Commissioner of Insurance, the Commissioner of Corrections, the President of the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association, the Superintendent of the Metropolitan District Commission Police, the Special Agent in charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation - Boston Office, and the District Attorney of Suffolk County, or their respective designees.

The membership of the Committee shall consist of the following: the President of the Massachusetts Senate or his designee, the Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives or his designee, a member of the judiciary, the Police Commissioner of the City of Boston, the President of the National Auto Theft Bureau, and the President of the Automotive Distributors and Recyclers of America - Massachusetts chapter, or their respective designees. A representative of Massachusetts-based insurance companies, a victim of the crime of automobile theft (including "unauthorized use"), a member of the general public, and a member of the Massachusetts Bar with experience in defending persons accused of automobile theft shall also be members of the Committee.

From the membership, the Governor shall designate a Chairperson and Vice- Chairperson. Any vacancies which may occur shall be filled by the Governor in the same manner as the prior appointment.

2. The Committee is authorized and directed to advise the Governor on specific, concrete recommendations to dramatically decrease the incidence of automobile theft in the Commonwealth. The Committee shall have, at a minimum, the following functions and responsibilities:

A. To research and analyze the statutes of the Commonwealth relating to:

(1) criminal penalties for offenders convicted of automobile theft (including "unauthorized use", insurance fraud and all other larcenous activities relating to motor vehicles);

(2) the disposition of said offenders;

(3) the improvement of the administration of justice relating to automobile theft prosecutions;

(4) the revision of motor vehicle titling laws to curtail certificate of title fraud;

(5) the licensing of dealers in salvage motor vehicles.

B. To undertake a coordinated executive, legislative and judicial response to the problems; and

C. To stimulate public interest in this problem and effectuate legislative and executive reform to diminish the crime rate attributable to automobile theft.

3. The Committee shall form a Law Enforcement Subcommittee to be composed of the Police Commissioner of the City of Boston, the President of the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association and the Chiefs of Police of the following communities: Braintree, Brockton, Brookline, Burlington, Cambridge, Chelsea, Fall River, Framingham, Lawrence, Lowell, Lynn, Malden, Medford, New Bedford, Newton, Quincy, Revere, Somerville, Springfield and Worcester. The Executive Director of the Massachusetts Criminal Justice Training Council shall serve as an ex officio member of this Committee. The Chairperson and Vice- Chairperson of such subcommittee shall be appointed by the Chairperson of the Governor's Task Force on Automobile Theft. This Subcommittee is charged with the responsibility of developing a cooperative effort and an increased commitment of resources in combating automobile theft on the part of the Commonwealth's law enforcement community.

4. The Committee may form other subcommittees from its own member- ship and is authorized to call upon any secretariat, office, department, board, commission, council or other agency of the executive branch of state government under my jurisdiction and any officer, member or employee thereof, to supply such statistical data, program reports and other information and materials as the Committee deems necessary or appropriate to perform its work, and they are authorized and directed to cooperate with the Committee and to furnish it with such information or assistance in connection with such review and analysis and in connection with effecting such recommendations as may be developed for the implementation thereof.

5. In view of the critical nature of the problem and the need for immediate action, it is requested that the Committee conduct its affairs as expeditiously as possible.

6. The Committee shall submit a written report to the Governor of its findings and recommendations together with drafts of legislation necessary to carry its recommendation into effect. Said report shall be filed with the Governor not later than February 29, 1980.

7. This Order shall take effect immediately and shall continue in force through February 29, 1980, unless extended by the Governor for an additional period of time.

Given at the Executive Chamber in Boston this 4th day of December, in the year of Our Lord one thousand nine hundred and seventy-nine and of the independence of the United States of America, two-hundred and four.

EDWARD J. KING
GOVERNOR
Commonwealth of Massachusetts

MICHAEL JOSEPH CONNOLLY
Secretary of the Commonwealth

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