January 29, 2021

Rep. Zawistowski Calls for Legislation to Address Rash of Juvenile Car Thefts

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HARTFORD – State Representative Tami Zawistowski (R-61) recently proposed legislation to provide law enforcement with the necessary tools to address the dramatic increase in juvenile car thefts taking place across Connecticut. The proposed bill, “An Act Concerning Auto Thefts by Juvenile Offenders,” would transfer juveniles arrested for larceny of a motor vehicle to adult court.

“The increase in juvenile car theft and burglary has become a dangerous threat to public safety and impacted residents’ quality of life,” said Rep. Zawistowski. “Coordinated groups have burglarized dozens of cars setting up potentially dangerous confrontations between property owners and juveniles.”

During the bill proposal period at the start of the legislative session several bills were introduced to address different policies connected to the growing issue.

“We are still in the early stages of the legislative process,” noted Rep. Zawistowski. “Many different concepts and proposals on this issue will be considered and combined in the Judiciary Committee. I am hopeful that the committee will hold public hearings on this issue and send a bill to the General Assembly for a vote.”

One proposal, “An Act Concerning the Automatic Transfer of Certain Auto Theft Cases from the Juvenile Court to the Criminal Docket and Revising the State-Wide Policy on Police Pursuits Specific to Property Crimes,” would transfer juvenile cases after one or more offences of motor vehicle theft, and would revise the Uniform Statewide Pursuit Policy to allow officers to pursue drivers fleeing suspected property crimes and vehicle thefts.

Currently, the Uniform Statewide Pursuit Policy prohibits officers from pursuing suspects for property crimes, including stolen motor vehicles unless there are, “articulable exigent circumstances.”

Another proposal put forward by House Republican leadership, “An Act Concerning Additional Methods and Resources to Deter Juvenile Auto Theft,” would offer additional pretrial educational and diversionary resources for juveniles in the criminal justice system while promoting public safety and reducing motor vehicle thefts by persistent juvenile offenders.

Rep. Zawistowski concluded, “It’s clear our local police departments need policy changes at the state level to address this problem and better protect residents and their property.”